4 



S LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




i 



AN 

ENGLISH TRANSLATION 

OF THE 

t 

9 

FIEST EIGHT BOOKS 

OF THE 

V 

ILIAD OF HOMER, 



By JAMES GILCHRIST, A.M. 



BELFAST : 

H. ADAIR, ARTHUR STREET ; C. AITCHISON, CASTLE PLACE ; 
G. PHILLIPS & SON, BRIDGE STREET. 
DOWNPATRICK: RECORDER OFFICE. 
1869. 



ft.0 



ADAIE, STEAM PElNTINGr WOEKS. 
AETHUE STEEET 3 BELFAST. 



PREFACE. 



The following English Translation of the First Eight Books of the 
Iliad of Homer was written during some leisure hours of the past 
year. I have endeavoured to make it as literal and faithful as I 
could ; with the view of exhibiting, in the best way, the spirit and 
style of the original : but whether I have succeeded in the attempt 
must be decided by those alone who are competent judges. I may 
here state, that I have neither read, nor seen any other English 
translation in my life : and it is hoped, therefore, that this circum- 
stance will ensure the kind and considerate indulgence of my more 
learned readers. 

Kirkcubbin, JAMES GILCHRIST. 

June \oth> 1869. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



FIRST BOOK. 



Sing, Goddess, tlie pernicious wrath, of Achilles the son 
of Peleus, which caused innumerable woes to the Greeks, 
and prematurely sent to Hades many brave souls of heroes, 
and made themselves to become a prey to dogs and all 
birds of prey : but the will of Jupiter was being accom- 
plished : from the time indeed, that both the son of Atreus, 
King of men, and noble Achilles, contending, were first 
separated. And which, then, of the gods committed these 
two to engage in contention ? The son of Latona and 
Jupiter. For he, being enraged with the King, excited 
a destructive pestilence through the army, and the people 
were perishing ; because the son of Atreus dishonoured 
Ohryses his priest. For he came to the swift ships of the 
Greeks, with the intention of ransoming his daughter, 
bringing also an infinite ransom, and having in his hands 
the chaplet of far-darting Apollo upon a golden sceptre : 
and he supplicated all the Greeks, but especially the two 
sons of Atreus, marshals of the people : "O ye sons of 
Atreus, and also ye other well-greaved Greeks, may the 
gods, possessing Olympian habitations, grant unto you to 
demolish the city of Priam, and to return home safely ; 
but release to me my dear child, and receive the ransom, 
revering the son of Jupiter, far-darting Apollo." Then 
indeed, all the other Greeks assented, both that the priest 
should be revered, and the splendid ransom received : but 
it was not pleasing to the soul of Agamemnon son of 
Atreus, but he scornfully dismissed him and further added 
this threatening mandate : " Let me not catch thee, old 



6 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



man, at the hollow ships, either now tarrying, or comings 
again hereafter, lest the sceptre and the chaplet of the god 
may avail thee nothing. But I will not release her: sooner 
shall even old age come upon her in our house, at Argos, 
far from her native land, running over her web, and 
sharing my bed ; but away ! provoke me not, that you may 
return the safer/'' So he said : but the old man feared, 
and obeyed his words, and he went in silence along the 
shore of the loud-sounding sea, and afterwards going 
apart, the old man fervently prayed to King Apollo, whom 
the beautiful-haired Latona bore : u Hear me, silver- 
bowed Sminthian, who art wont to protect Chrysa and 
exquisite Cilia, and powerfully reignest over Tenedos : if 
ever I decked for thee a graceful temple, or if indeed, I 
ever burnt down to thee the fat thighs of bulls and goats, 
accomplish for me this desire : let the Danai suffer for my 
tears by thy weapons." 

He so said, praying : but Phoebus Apollo heard him,, 
and he went down from the summits of Olympus, 
enraged in his heart, having on his shoulders his bow, 
and all covered quiver : and the arrows gave a clangour 
upon the shoulders of him enraged, as he himself moved 
along : and he went like unto night ; then he sat down 
apart from the ships, and hurled forth an arrow, and 
dreadful was the twang of the silver bow. In the first 
place, indeed, he assailed the mules and swift dogs ; but 
afterwards, casting a bitter dart at themselves, he struck 
them, and frequent funeral piles of dead bodies were 
perpetually burning. For nine days, indeed, the shafts 
of the god went through the army, and on the tenth, 
Achilles called the people to an assembly : for the white- 
armed goddess Juno had put it into his mind : for she 
was concerned for the Danai, when she saw them so 
dying. And when therefore, they were assembled and 
come together, swift-footed Achilles, standing up, spoke 
among them : " son of Atreus, now I think, that we, 
being frustrated in our purpose, shall return back, if 
only indeed we can escape death, seeing that both war 
and pestilence, at the same time, overcome the Greeks. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMES. 



7 



But come, I pray thee, let us ask some prophet, or 
priest, or even an interpreter of dreams, — for a dream 
also proceeds from Jupiter — who may tell us why Phoebus 
Apollo is so much enraged : whether he now blames us 
for a vow, or a hecatomb, or whether perhaps, he wishes 
on being partaker of the savour of lambs and choice 
goats, to drive away the plague from us." He, having so 
said, then sat down : but Calchas, the son of Thestor, 
stood up among them, by far the most eminent of dream- 
interpreters, who had known both the things present 
and things to come, and things that are past, and he was 
a leader in ships of the Greeks to Ilium, on account of 
his own prophetic skill, which Phoebus Apollo bestowed 
on him, who wisely harangued among them and said : 
" Achilles, dear to Jupiter, you order me to explain 
the wrath of Apollo, the far- darting king. I will there- 
fore speak : but do thou make an agreement with, and 
swear to me) that thou wilt promptly assist me both 
with words and hands. For indeed I think that the man 
will be excited to anger, who powerfully rules over all 
the Argives, and to whom the Acheeans are obedient. 
For a king is more powerful, when he is enraged with a 
man thatfjs inferior : for though he should smother his 
anger for the time present, yet he keeps the grudge in 
his breast, until he accomplish it hereafter ; but do thou 
say, if thou wilt save me." But swift-footed Achilles, 
answering, said unto him : " Entirely confiding, speak 
the divine will, as far as you know. For by Apollo, dear 
to Jupiter, to whom you, Calchas, praying, shewest the 
divine will to the Danai, no one of all the Danai together, 
whilst I am living, and looking upon the earth, shall lay 
heavy hands upon thee at the hollow ships ; not even 
though you should mention Agamemnon, who now boasts 
to be far the most distinguished of the Greeks." And 
then at length the blameless prophet took courage, and 
said : " He does not blame us either on account of a vow, 
or hecatomb : but on the account of his priest, whom 
Agamemnon dishonoured, and neither delivered up his 
daughter, nor received the ransom. For this reason the 



8 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



far- darter has given woes, and will yet give more ; neither 
will he withhold his heavy hands from the pestilence, 
before that he deliver up to her dear father the black 
eyed girl, unpurchased, unransomed, and conduct a 
sacred hecatomb to Chrysa : then indeed, having ap- 
peased him, we shall prevail." 

He, having even so said, then sat down : but the hero, 
son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, stood up among 
them, being grieved : and his all-gloomy thoughts were 
greatly filled with indignation, and his eyes were like 
unto shining fire : and he addressed Calchas in the first 
place, eying him sternly : " prophet of evils, thou hast 
never yet spoken anything agreeable to me ; it is always 
pleasing to thy mind to prophesy evil things, and thou 
hast never spoken a good word, nor brought it to pass, 
and now thou Imranguest the divine will among the 
Danai, as if, for sooth, the far-darter causes woes to them 
for this reason, because I was unwilling to receive a 
splendid ransom for the maiden daughter of Chryses : 
since I wish rather to have her at home; for truly I prefer 
her even to Clytemnestra my virgin spouse, seeing she 
is not anything inferior to her, either in personal appear- 
ance, or look, or thoughts, or works. But even so, I am 
willing to restore her, if this is better; I wish the people 
to be safe, rather than to perish : but forthwith prepare 
for me a prize, that I alone of the Argives may not be 
without a prize, for this is not equitable : for you all 
clearly see this, that my prize goes elsewhere." But 
swift-footed noble Achilles then answered him : " most 
glorious son of Atreus, most avaricious of all, how, pray, 
shall the magnanimous Greeks give you a prize ? we do 
not know of much common property lying anywhere, 
but the plunder, we have taken from the cities we des- 
troyed, has been divided, and it is not equitable that the 
people should throw together these things collected once 
more. But do thou send her now away to the God : but 
we Greeks will repay thee threefold and fourfold, if ever 
Jupiter shall grant us to demolish the well-walled city 
Troy." But King Agamemnon said to him in reply : 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. 



9 



*'Be not so cunniuginmind, godlike Achilles, excellent 
though, you be : since you will not overreach, nor per- 
suade me. Do you wish that you should yourself have a 
prize, but that I should sit thus wanting one ? and do 
you order me to restore this maid ? However, if the 
magnanimous Achaaans shall give a prize, adapting it to 
my soul, such as shall be an adequate compensation, I 
will do so : but if they shall not give it, then I will go 
and take it myself : I will take and carry away, either 
your prize, or that of Ajax or Ulysses, and no doubt, he, 
to whom I come, shall be indignant. But nevertheless, 
we will consult about these things afterwards. Now 
then, come, let us launch a black ship into the Divine 
Sea, and suitably collect rowers into her, and put on 
board a hecatomb, and cause the beautiful-cheeked 
Chryseis herself to embark : and let some one Counsellor 
be the leading man, either Ajax, or Idomeneus, or noble 
Ulysses, or even you, son of Peleus, the most terrible of 
all men, in order that, by doing sacrifice, you may pro- 
pitiate for us the far-darting God." 

But swift-footed Achilles, with stern aspect, at once 
said to him : " alas ! clothed with impudence, as fond 
of gain as a lion is of prey, how shall any one of the 
Achaoans readily obey thy words, or go on an expedition, 
or fight courageously with men ? .For I have not come 
here for the sake of fighting with the Trojan warriors, 
seeing they are blameless, as respects me. For they 
never drove away my cows, nor my horses, neither did 
they ever destroy the fruit in very fertile, man-supporting 
Phthia, for as much as very many shadowy mountains, 
and a resounding sea are between : but, O mighty im- 
pudent, we accompanied thee, in order that thou mightest 
rejoice, exacting punishment from the Trojans in behalf 
of Menelaus and thee, O dog-faced man, which things 
thou neither regardest nor carest for; and now thou 
dost threaten that you will yourself take away my prize, 
for which I have performed many labours, and which the 
sons of the Greeks gave to me. Indeed I never have a 
prize equal to thee, whenever the Achaeans have destroyed 



10 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



& well inhabited town of tlie Trojans. But my hands 
direct the greater part of the impetuous conflict ; yet, if 
at any time a division should come, thy prize is much 
greater, and I go to the ships, having a small and agree- 
able one, after I have been tired fighting. And now I 
go to Phthia, since it is much better to go home with my 
beaked ships : nor do I opine, dishonoured as 1 am here, 
that you will accumulate wealth and riches." 

But Agamemnon, King of men, then answered him : 
" Fly instantly, if thy soul urges thee, nor do I for my 
part supplicate you to remain on my account ; there are 
others also along with me, who will honour me, and most 
especially wise Jupiter. But thou art the most hateful 
to me of high-bred Kings ; for thou art always fond of 
contention, and wars, and battles. If thou art very brave, 
surely God has given you this. Go home with thy ships, 
and thy companions, and reign over the Myrmidons : 
but I neither regard thee, nor care for thine anger : but 
I will threaten thee thus, as Phoebus Apollo takes away 
from me the daughter of Chryses, whom I will send both 
with my own ship and my companions : but I will lead 
away the beautiful-cheeked Briseis, thy prize, going my- 
self to thy tent ; in order that you may know well, how 
much I am superior to thee, and another also may 
shudder to pronounce himself equal to me, and to be 
compared with me." He so said : but grief arose to the 
son of Peleus, and his heart in his hairy breast meditated 
two ways, whether he would, drawing a sharp sword from 
along his thigh, set them aside, and kill the son of 
Atreus, or stifle his wrath, and restrain his indignation. 
Whilst he was revolving these things in his mind and 
soul, and was drawing the great blade from the scabbard, 
Minerva came from Heaven : for the white-armed god- 
dess Juno, both loving and concerned for them both 
equally in her soul, had sent her on beforehand ; and she 
stood behind, and caught the son of Peleus by the yellow 
hair, appearing to him alone, and none of the others saw 
her. But Achilles was amazed, and turned back, and at 
once knew Pallas Minerva, and her eyes seemed terrible 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



11 



to him, and raising his voice he addressed her with, 
winged words : " Why hast thou come hither, daughter 
of .^gis -bearing Jupiter ? Is it that you may see the 
insult of Agamemnon son of Atreus ? but I declare to 
thee, and I think that it shall also be accomplished, he 
shall quickly at length lose his life, by his own haughti- 
ness." But again the azure- eyed goddess Minerva said 
to him : " I am come from Heaven to put an end to thy 
resentment, provided you obey me : and the white-armed 
goddess Juno, who loves and cares for you both equally 
in her soul, has sent ine forth. But come, cease from 
contention, and draw not the sword with thy hand, but 
just reproach him with words, as the case may require. 
For I thus declare, what shall also be accomplished, even 
three times so many splendid gifts shall at some time be 
present with thee on account of this insult : but do thou 
restrain thyself, and obey us." But swift-footed Achilles 
addressed her in reply : "It becomes me, indeed, to obey 
your word, goddess, however exceedingly I am enraged 
in soul, for so it is better, whosoever shall obey the Gods, 
him they readily hear." He said, and held his heavy 
hand upon the silver hilt, and pushed back the great 
blade into the scabbard, and did not disobey the word 
of Minerva : but she went off to Heaven, into the mansion 
of ^Egis-b earing Jupiter, to the other divinities. And 
the son of Peleus again addressed the son of Atreus with 
severe words, and did not yet cease from anger : ec O 
drunkard, having the eyes of a dog, but the heart of a 
stag, thou hast never dared in soul either to be armed 
along with the people for war, or to proceed with the 
chieftains of the Greeks to an ambuscade: but this seems 
to be death to thee. Truly it is much more desirable to 
take away gifts throughout the wide army of the Greeks, 
from any one who may contradict thee : thou art a king, 
the devourer of the people's substance, since thou reignest 
over men of no account : otherwise, son of Atreus, it 
would now be the very last insult you should offer. But 
I declare to thee, and moreover swear a great oath, nay, 
by this sceptre, which never shall produce leaves and 



12 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



branches, neither shall it sprout again, since once it has 
left the trunk in the mountains : for the steel has lopped 
off both the leaves and rind around it, but now the sons 
of the Greeks carry it in their hands as judges who 
defend the laws from Jupiter, and this will be a great 
oath : surely at some time a longing desire for Achilles 
shall come upon all the sons of the Greeks together: but 
you shall not be able, however grieved, to avail them any- 
thing, when many shall fall, dying under man-slaying 
Hector; but thou shalt, with anger, lacerate thy soul 
within, because thou hast nothing honoured the bravest 
of the Greeks." 

So spake the son of Peleus : and he cast to the ground 
the sceptre studded with golden studs, and sat down 
himself. But the son of Atreus, on the other hand, was 
enraged : and the sweet-speaking Nestor rose up among 
them, the shrill orator of the Pylians, from whose tongue 
flowed a voice even sweeter than honey. To him already, 
indeed, two generations of articulate-speaking men had 
passed away, who had been brought up, and lived along 
with him before that, in exquisite Pylos, and he was reign- 
ing among the third : who prudently harangued to them 
and said : " Gods, surely great mourning is coming on 
the Achasan land, surely Priam would rejoice, and the 
sons of Priam, and the other Trojans would be greatly 
delighted in soul, if they should hear of you two contend- 
ing in all this manner, who excel the Greeks both in 
counsel and in battle. But be persuaded ; for ye both are 
younger than me. For already once before, I was con- 
versant with braver men than you, and never did they 
make light of me. For never yet have I seen, nor shall 
I see such men as Pirithous, and Diyas, shepherd of the 
people, and Cseneus, and Exadius, and divine Polyphemus, 
and Theseus son of iEgis, very like to the immortals. 
They certainly were the most powerful of men brought up 
on the earth : the most powerful indeed they were, and 
they fought with the most powerful mountain Centaurs, 
and terribly destroyed them. And indeed I was con- 
versant with these, having come from Pylos, far from the 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



13 



Apian land, for they themselves had called me : and I 
fought on my own account : but not one of those mortals 
who are now on earth could fight with them : and they 
hearkened to my counsels, and obeyed my words. But 
do you also obey, seeing that it is better to obey. Neither 
do thou, excellent though you be, take away the maid 
from him, but as the sons of the Ackgeans gave the prize to 
him, leave it so : nor do thou, son of Peleus, be ready to 
contend against a King, since never yet was any sceptre- 
bearing King allotted an equal share of honour. But if 
thou art stronger, and a goddess mother gave you birth, 
yet he is more eminent, seeing that he reigns over more 
subjects. But, son of Atreus, do thou put an end to 
thy resentment : yea, I supplicate thee to dismiss thy 
wrath in respect to Achilles, who is the great bulwark 
of all the Greeks in this destructive war." But Kino* 

o 

Agamemnon said to him in reply : " Yea, old man, you 
have indeed spoken all these things with propriety, but 
this man wishes to be above all others, and to reign over 
all, and to direct all : with which things I do not intend 
to comply. But, if the ever-living gods have made him 
a warrior, do they, for this reason, permit him to utter 
reproaches V } But noble Achilles, at once interruptedly, 
answered him : " Surely I should be called both a coward 
and a good-for-nothing, if indeed I shall yield to thee in 
everything, whatsoever you may say : give such com- 
mands now to others, for you must not direct me : for I 
for my part think that I shall no longer obey you. But 
I tell thee another thing, and do thou lay it up in thy 
mind : I will by no means contend with my hands on 
account of the maid, neither with thee, nor any one else, 
since after having given her, ye take her away from me. 
But of the other things which I have at my black ship, of 
these thou shalt not snatch away a particle against my 
will. But if — come on, make a trial, that these also may 
know : instantly shall thy black blood flow around my 
spear." Thus they, having contended with adverse words, 
rose up, and dissolved the assembly at the ships of the 
Greeks. 



14 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



The son of Peleus, indeed, went towards his tents and 
equal ships, in company with the son of Menoetius and 
his own companions : but the son of Atreus at once 
launched a swift ship into the sea, and put into her twenty 
select rowers, and placed in her a hecatomb for the God: 
and conducting the beautiful-cheeked Chryseis, he placed 
her on board ; and the wily Ulysses went in as the leader. 
They then, having embarked, sailed over the moist ways. 
But the son of Atreus ordered the people to cleanse 
themselves. And they cleansed themselves, and cast the 
offscourings into the sea : and they offered perfect heca- 
tombs of bulls and goats to Apollo, elong the shore of 
the barren sea : and the savour wrapped around with 
smoke went to Heaven. Thus they were engaged through- 
out the army : nor did Agamemnon cease from the con- 
tention with which he at first threatened Achilles : but he 
said unto Talthybius and Burybates, who were his heralds 
and sedulous attendants : " Go to the tent of Achilles 
son of Peleus, taking by the hand, bring away the beauti- 
ful-cheeked Briseis : but if he will not give her, then I 
myself will take her, going with more men ; which will be 
even worse for him.-" So saying he despatched them, 
and further added a threatening mandate. But they, 
unwilling, went along the shore of the barren sea, and 
came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons : and found 
him sitting at his tent and black ship : nor did Achilles 
indeed rejoice when he saw them. They, however, being 
confounded and revering the King, stood : neither did 
they say anything to him, nor ask any question. But he 
knew in his own mind, and said : " Hail, heralds, messen- 
gers of Jupiter, and also of men : come nearer : you are 
by no means to be blamed by me, but Agamemnon, who 
sent you forth on account of the maid Briseis. But come, 
noble-born Patroclus, bring out^the maid, and give her 
to them to take away : but let these same be witnesses 
before both the blessed gods and mortal men, and before 
the ruthless King. If ever again there be a necessity for 
me to drive away unseemly destruction from the rest : — 
for he acts under the impulse of an infatuated mind, nor 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



15 



does he in any respect know how at once to consider the 
present and the future, in what manner the Greeks may 
fight with safety at the ships. " He so said : but Patro- 
clus obeyed his dear companion, and brought out of the 
tent beautiful-cheeked Briseis, and gave her to them to 
take away and they went back to the ships of the Greeks. 
But the woman went unwillingly along with them. But 
Achilles, shedding tears, immediately sat down, separated 
apart from his companions at the shore of the hoary sea, 
looking upon the purple main : and he prayed much to 
his dear mother, stretching out his hands : " mother, 
since you have brought forth me destined to be so short 
lived, the Olympian high sounding Jupiter ought to have 
extended to me increased honour : but now he has not 
honoured me even a little. For certainly the son of 
Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, has dishonoured me : 
for seizing my prize he has it, having himself taken it 
away." So he said, shedding tears : but his venerable 
mother heard him, as she was sitting in the depths of the 
sea beside her aged father, and quickly emerged from the 
hoary sea, like a mist, and sat down before him pouring 
down tears, and stroked him with her hand, and spoke 
these words and said: "0 son, why dost thou weep ? and 
what grief has come upon thy mind ? Speak out, conceal 
it not in thy mind, that we both may know." But swift- 
footed Achilles, deeply sighing, said unto her : " Thou 
knowest : why need I declare these things to thee know- 
ing them all ? We went to Thebes, the sacred city of 
Eetion, and we both destroyed it, and brought all things 
here : and indeed the sons of the Greeks divided these 
well among themselves, and selected for the son of Atreus, 
the beautiful-cheeked Ohryseis : but Chryses, the priest 
of far-darting Apollo, afterwards came to the swift ships 
of the brazen-mailed Greeks, with the purpose of ransom- 
ing his daughter, and bringing an infinite ransom, and, 
having in his hands the chaplet of far-darting Apollo upon 
a golden sceptre, he supplicated all the Greeks, but especi- 
ally the two sons of Atreus, the leaders of the people. 
Then all the rest of the Greeks assented, both that the 



16 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



priest should be revered, and the splendid ransom re- 
ceived : but it was not pleasing to the soul of Agamemnon 
son of Atreus, but he scornfully dismissed him, and 
further added a threatening mandate. And the old man, 
being angry, went away again : and Apollo heard him 
praying, since he was very dear to him. And he cast a 
fatal dart at the Argives : and the people were now dying 
in heaps : and the shafts of the God were flying in every 
direction through the wide army of the Achseans : but a 
well-skilled prophet declared unto us the divine will of 
Apollo. Upon that, I first advised that the God should 
be appeased : and then anger seized the son of Atreus : 
and instantly standing up, he threatened a word which is 
just accomplished. For black-eyed Achasans with a swift 
ship are escorting her to Chrysa, and carrying gifts to the 
King : and heralds have recently gone from my tent, 
leading away the daughter of Briseis, whom the sons of 
the Achaeans had given to me. But do thou, if thou canst 
at least, render aid to thy good son. Go to Olympus and 
supplicate Jupiter, if ever indeed thou hast any way 
assisted the heart of Jupiter either in word or deed. For 
I have often heard thee boasting in my father's house, 
when you said that you alone amongst the immortals 
warded off ignominious destruction from the cloud- 
darkening son of Saturn, at a time when the other 
celestials wished to bind him, both Juno and Neptune, 
and Pallas Minerva. But, you, goddess, when you 
came, released him from the chains, having quickly called 
to lofty Olympus the hundred-handed giant, whom the 
gods call Briareus, but all men .ZEgasus, — for he indeed, 
was superior in strength to his own father — who, more- 
over, sat down beside the son of Saturn, exulting in his 
pre-eminence. And the happy gods shuddered through 
fear of him, and no longer bound him. Reminding him 
now of these things, sit beside him, and catch him by the 
knees, if in anywise he may be willing to aid the Trojans, 
and shut up the Achasans both at the sterns, and along 
the sea, being slain, that they all may enjoy their King, 
whilst also the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. 



17 



shall perceive his own fatal error, when he paid no respect 
to the bravest of the Achaeans/" But then Thetis, pouring 
down tears, answered him : "Alas, my child, why have I 
nourished thee, after having unluckily given thee birth ? 
O that thou wouldst sit at the ships without tears, and 
without harm, seeing that thy existence is of short 
duration, and not very long : and now thou art, at the 
same time, both short-lived, and calamitous above all : 
wherefore, by an evil destiny, I have given you birth in 
our house. But yet I shall go myself to very white 
Olympus, to tell this word to thunder-delighting Jupiter, 
if he may be persuaded. But do you now, sitting at the 
swift-sailing ships, cherish resentment against the Achse- 
ans, and abstain from the war altogether. For Jupiter 
went yesterday to Oceanus to a feast among the blameless 
Ethiopians, and all the gods at the same time followed. 
But on the twelfth he shall return to Olympus : and then 
at length, I shall go for you to the brazen floored mansion 
of Jupiter, and will supplicate him, and I think I shall 
persuade him. " Having thus spoken she went off, and 
left him there vexed in soul, on account of the elegantly 
girded woman, whom they took away by force from him 
against his will. But Ulysses came to Chrysa, conducting 
the sacred hecatomb. And when they had now come 
within the very deep harbour, they furled the sails, and 
placed them in the black ship, and brought the mast to 
its receptacle, letting it down with ropes speedily : and 
they shoved her into a station with oars, and cast out the 
anchors, and bound cables to them : and they went out 
themselves upon the beach of the sea, and disembarked 
the hecatomb for far-darting Apollo ; then Chryseis went 
out of the sea-passing ship. Afterwards the wily Ulysses, 
leading her to the altar, placed her in the hands of her 
own dear father, and said unto him ; " Chryses, Aga- 
memnon, Kir-g of men, sent me forth, both to bring to 
thee thy daughter, and to offer a sacred hecatomb to 
Phoebus in behalf of the Danai, in order that we may 
appease the King, who has now sent very lamentable woes 
among the Argives." So saying, he placed her in his 



18 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



hands : but he, rejoicing, received his dear child : and they 
quickly placed the famous hecatomb for the god in order 
around the well-built altar. And then they washed their 
hands and held up the cakes, and Chryses prayed for them 
aloud, holding up his hands : " Hear me, god of the 
silver bow, who art wont to defend Chrysa arid exquisite 
Cilia, and powerfully reignest over Tenedos, already once 
before this thou didst hear me praying; thou hast honoured 
me indeed, and hast greatly injured the people of the 
Achseans : yet now, even now also, accomplish for me 
this desire : just now remove the unseemly plague from 
the Danai." So he said, praying : and Phoebus Apollo 
heard him. But after they had prayed, and sprinkled the 
meal, they then drew back the neck first, and cut the 
throat, and took off the skin, and cut out the thighs, and 
wrapped them round with the caul, after making them 
twofold, and put raw pieces upon them : and the old man 
roasted them upon cleft wood, and poured on them deep 
red wine : whilst youths along with him held five-pronged 
forks in their hands. But after the thighs were sufficiently 
roasted, and they had tasted the entrails, they then cut 
the rest into bits and transfixed them with spits, and they 
roasted them very skilfully, and drew them all off. But 
after they had ceased from labour, and prepared a banquet, 
they feasted : nor did their soul in any wise lack an 
adequate feast. But after they had banished the desire of 
drink and food, young men crowned the goblets with wine, 
and then distributed to all, commencing with the cups. 
And the youths of the Achseans appeased the god the 
whole day with melody, singing a beautiful hymn in cele- 
bration of the far-darter : but he, hearing it, was delighted 
in mind. But as soon as the sun had gone down and 
darkness come on, then at length they lay down to sleep 
near the cables of the ship. Bui/ as soon as the early 
rising rosy-fingered Aurora appeared, even then they were 
returning thence to the broad army of the Achseans : and 
far-darting Apollo sent them a propitious breeze. But 
they set up the mast, and spread out the white sails ; and 
the wind filled with its blast the middle of the sail, and 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



19 



the dark wave loudly resounded about the keel, as the 
ship moved along ; and she ran through the wave, accom- 
plishing the journey. But as soon as they came to the 
wide army of the AchsGans, they hauled up the black ship 
upon the shore, high up on the sand, and stretched long 
props under her ; but they themselves were dispersed 
through both tents and ships. But the noble born son 
of Peleus, swift-footed Achilles, cherished his anger, 
sitting at the swift-passing ships, nor did he ever frequent 
the assembly of noblemen, nor yet the battle : but he 
pined away his own heart, remaining there, though he 
longed for the din and the battle. But when now the 
twelfth Aurora from that was come, even then at last, the 
ever living gods went to Olympus, all together, and 
Jupiter led the way : but Thetis was not forgetful of the 
commands of her son, but she emerged from the wave of 
the sea, and went up early to the great Heaven and 
Olympus, and found the far-seeing son of Saturn sitting 
apart from the others in the highest summit of many- 
peaked Olympus. And at once she sat down before him, 
and grasped his knees with her left hand, and then catch- 
ing him under the chin with the right hand, supplicating 
she addressed King Jupiter, son of Saturn. " Father 
Jupiter, if ever in reality I have assisted thee among the 
immortals, either by word or deed, accomplish for me 
this wish : honour my son, who is the most short-lived of 
others : for now indeed, Agamemnon King of men has 
dishonoured him : for having seized his prize, he holds it, 
having himself taken it away. But, Olympian, wise 
Jupiter, do thou honour him the more ; and put victory 
in the hands of the Trojans so long, until the Achseans 
honour my son, and increase him with honour/'' 

She so said : but cloud-collecting Jupiter said nothing 
to her, but sat silent long : but Thetis, as she had caught 
his knees, so held them clinging closely, and asked him 
again the second time : " Surely now promise to me and 
assent, or refuse, seeing that no fear is in thee, in order 
that I may well know, how much I am the most dis- 
honoured goddess among all." But cloud-collecting 



20 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



Jupiter, being greatly disturbed, said unto her : " Truly 
now, pernicious things will happen, since you will excite 
me to offend Juno, when she will irritate me with re- 
proachful words. For she is always chiding me even 
without reason among the immortal Gods, and she says 
also that I favour the Trojans in battle. But do you 
now again withdraw, lest Juno should by any means per- 
ceive : but these things shall be a concern to me, that I 
may perform them. But if — come, I will nod to thee 
with my head, in order that you may have confidence. 
For this is the greatest sign from me among the immor- 
tals : for mine is neither revocable, nor fallacious, nor 
unaccomplished, whatever I may assent to with my head/' 
He said, and the son of Saturn nodded with his azure 
eye brows, and at once the ambrosial hair of the King 
was shaken from his immortal head, and he made the 
great Olympus to tremble. They, having so consulted, 
were separated : she indeed then leaped into the deep 
sea, but Jupiter went to his own mansion. And all the 
gods at once rose from their seats in the presence of their 
father : nor did any venture to await him approaching, 
but all stood up before him. So he there sat down upon 
his throne : nor did Juno ignore him, having seen that 
silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the marine old man, had 
entered into counsels with him. Forthwith she addressed 
Jupiter son of Saturn, with sarcastic words : " But which 
of the gods has again been plotting with you, crafty 
sir ? It is ever agreeable to you, being apart from me, 
thinking secret things, to decide : nor have you ever yet 
endured with willing mind, to tell me a word of whatever 
you may think." But then the father both of men and 
gods answered her : tX Juno, do not, I beseech you, expect 
that you shall know all my plans : they will be hard for 
you, though you are my wife. But whatever it is right 
you should hear, then no one, either of gods or men, shall 
know it sooner. But whatever I should wish to consider 
apart from the gods, do not you make any inquiry, nor 
pry into each of these things." But then ox-eyed vener- 
able Juno answered him : " Most gloomy son of Saturn, 



THE ILTAD OF HOMER. 



21 



what sort of language have you uttered ? neither formerly, 
nor now, do I inquire much, or pry into thy plans : 
but you consult very quietly those things which you wish. 
But now I exceedingly fear in mind, lest silver-footed 
Thetis, daughter of the marine old man, may have over- 
reached you : for she early sat beside you, and caught 
you by the knees : to whom I suspect that you assented 
truly, that you would honour Achilles, and destroy many 
at the ships of the Achaeans." But cloud-collecting 
Jupiter said unto her in reply : " Madam, you are always 
suspecting, nor can I escape your notice : yet you shall 
not be able to effect anything afc all, but you shall be 
the more disagreeable to my soul : and this will be even 
worse for thee. But if this be so as you suspect, it ap- 
pears to be pleasing to me. But sit down in silence and 
obey my words, lest as many gods as are in Olympus 
may not avail you, once I go nearer, when I lay in- 
vincible hands on you." He so said : but ox-eyed 
venerable Juno feared, and sat down in silence, having 
restrained the emotions of her heart. But the celestial 
gods were troubled in spirit throughout the mansion of 
Jupiter, and the renowned artist Vulcan began to harangue 
among them, offering kind offices to his dear mother, the 
white-armed Juno. "Surely these will be pernicious 
works, no longer to be tolerated, if ye two contend in this 
manner on account of mortals, and excite a tumult 
among the gods : neither will there be any pleasure in 
our good banquet, while worse things prevail. But I 
advise my mother, though she understands it herself, to 
pay obeisance to my dear father Jupiter, that my father 
may not again scold her, and also disturb our banquet. 
For if the Olympian thunderer should wish to repel us 
from our seats — for he is by far the most powerful. But 
do thou sooth him with soft words : then at once the 
Olympian will become pleased with us.'''' He so said, 
and rising up, placed a double-eared cup in the hand of 
his dear mother, and said unto her : " Bear and endure 
with patience, my mother, however grieved you be, lest 
I see thee, dearest to my heart, striped before mine eyes : 



B 



22 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



and then, however vexed, I shall not be able to avail 
thee anything, for the Olympian is hard to be resisted. 
For already once before, when I was eager to render 
assistance, stretching me by the foot, he flung me from 
the divine threshold : and I was borne along the whole 
day, and along with the setting sun I fell down in 
Lemnos : but there was yet little life in me : there the 
Sintian men immediately took me up after falling." He 
so said : but the white-armed goddess Juno smiled ; and 
smiling, received the cup from the hand of her son. But 
he, beginning on the right, poured out wine for all tho 
other gods, drawing the sweet nectar from a goblet. 
And immence laughter was excited among the blessed 
gods, when they saw Vulcan performing the office of 
cup-bearer throughout the mansion. So then, they 
feasted the entire day, even to the setting sun : nor did 
their soul in anywise lack an excellent banquet, nor a 
very beautiful harp which Apollo had, and the Muses, 
who sung, accompanying him, each in turn, with a 
beautiful voice. But when the splendid light of the sun 
went down, they then went to their repose, each one to 
his house, where the very renowned, feeble-limbed 
Vulcan had made a habitation for each, with a skilful 
understanding. But Jupiter, the Olympian thunderer, 
went to his own bed, where he had slept before, when 
sweet sleep would come upon him : there he lay down to 
rest, when he had ascended; and beside him the golden- 
throned Juno. 

3 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 
SECOND BOOK. 



Others, to wit, the gods and hair-crested men, slept the 
whole night, but sweet sleep did not take possession of 
Jupiter : but he, indeed, deliberated anxiously in his 
mind, that he might honour Achilles and destroy many at 
the ships of the Achaeans. And this appeared to his 
soul to be the best plan, to send fatal Onirus to Agamem- 
non, son of Atreus ; and calling him, he addressed him 
with winged words : "Go ! hasten with speed, fatal Onirus, 
to the swift ships of the Ach9eans,and when you have enter- 
ed into the tent of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, announce 
very accurately all things just as I command : order him to 
arm the bushy-headed Achseans with all their array, for 
now he shall take the wide-streeted city of the Trojans, see- 
ing that no longer do the immortals, having Olympian habi- 
tations, think two ways ; for Juno, supplicating, has bent 
them all, and woes impend over the Trojans." So he 
spake, and Onirus went off as soon as he heard the man- 
date. And speedily he arrived at the swift ships of the 
Achgeans, and went accordingly to Agamemnon, son of 
Atreus : and he found him sleeping in his tent, and 
ambrosial sleep was diffused around : and he stood over 
his head, like unto the son of Neleus, Nestor, whom for- 
sooth, Agamemnon honoured most of all the seniors. 
Divine Onirus, having made himself like to him, said 
unto him : " Art thou sleeping, son of warlike, horse- 
taming Atreus ? It becometh not a man who is a coun- 
sellor to sleep all the night, to whom also the forces are 
entrusted, and so many things are a concern : and now 
understand from me quickly, for I am Jupiter's messenger 



24 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



to thee, who. tho' being at a distance, is greatly concerned 
for thee, and pities thee. He has ordered thee to arm 
the bushy-headed Achaoans with all their array, for now 
thou shalt take the wide-streeted city of the Trojans, 
seeing that no longer do the immortals, having Olympian 
habitations, think two ways ; for Juno, supplicating, has 
bent them all, and woes impend over the Trojans, from 
Jupiter. But keep thou this in thy mind, and let not 
forgetfulness seize thee, whenever pleasing sleep has left 
thee." Having so said, he went off, and left him there* 
thinking in his soul those things which were not about 
to be accomplished : for he, foolish man, thought that he 
would take the city of Priam on that day, nor was ha 
aware of those works which Jupiter was planning. For 
he was yet about to impose additional hardships and 
sorrows upon both Trojans and Greeks, through hard 
conflicts. And he awoke from sleep, whilst the divine 
accents were diffused around him, and he sat upright 
and put on his soft coat, beautiful, newly made ; and cast 
a large cloak around himself, and bound beautiful sandals 
under his shining feet, and slung about his shoulders his 
silver-mounted sword ; moreover, he grasped his paternal 
sceptre, incorruptible for ever, with which he went 
towards the ships of the brazen-mailed Achaeans. 

The goddess Aurora had just ascended the great Olym- 
pus, announcing the dawn to Jove and the other immor- 
tals, whilst he was ordering the shrill-voiced heralds to 
call the bushy-headed Achaeans to an assembly. These, 
indeed, proclaimed; and they were assembled very 
quickly. But in the first place, a council of the mag- 
nanimous seniors sat at the ship of Nestor, the Pylian- 
born King : when he had called these together, he set 
forth a subject of prudent deliberation: " Hear, friends! 
Divine Onirus came to me in my sleep, during the am- 
brosial night, and he most closely resembled noble Nestor, 
in appearance, and magnitude, and proportion. And he 
stood over my head, and addressed me with these words : 
' Art thou sleeping, son of warlike horse-taming Atreus ? 
It becometh not a man who is a counsellor to sleep all 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



25 



the night, to whom also the forces are entrusted, and so 
many things are a concern. Bat now understand from 
me quickly, for I am Jupiter's messenger to thee, who, 
though being at a distance, is greatly concerned for thee, 
and pities thee. He has ordered thee to arm the bushy- 
headed Achseans with all their array ; for now thou shalt 
take the wide-streeted city of the Trojans, seeing that 
the immortals, having Olympian habitations, no longer 
think differently : for Juno, supplicating, has bent them 
all, and woes impend over the Trojans, from Jupiter. 
But do thou keep this in thy mind/ He, indeed, so 
saying, went flying away, and sweet sleep left me. But 
come, if by any means we can arm the sons of the 
Achseans. And first, I shall try them with words, as the 
custom is, and advise them to fly with their many benched 
ships. But do ye, each in a different direction, restrain 
them with words." He, even so saying, sat down : and 
Nestor stood up among them, who was King of Sandy 
Pylus, who prudently harangued and spoke among them : 
u friends, leaders and princes of the Argives, if indeed 
any other of the Achgeans had related this dream, we 
would have pronounced it a fabrication, and turned away 
from it rather : but now, he has seen it, who boasts to be 
the most highly distinguished in the army. But come, if by 
any means we can arm the sons of the Achaaans." Having 
so said, he began to depart from the council: and the 
sceptre-bearing kings rose up, and obeyed the shepherd 
of the people : and the forces, meanwhile, were hastening 
together. And, as swarms of thick bees issue from a 
hollow rock, always coming afresh, and they fly in clusters 
over the vernal flowers, and they flit in bodies, some here 
and some there, so the numerous crowds of these proceeded 
from the ships and tents before the immense shore, in 
troops to the assembly: and rumour, a messenger from 
Jove, had been kindled among them, inciting them to go. 
They then were gathered together, but the assembly was 
tumultuous, and the earth groaned under the forces sitting 
down, and there was a confused noise : and nine heralds, 
crying, restrained them, if by any means they would hold 



26 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



in from tlieir clamour, and hear the noble-born kings. 
But with difficulty the people sat down, and were kept to 
their seats, having ceased from their clamour. Then 
king Agamemnon stood up, holding a sceptre which 
Vulcan skilfully had made, Vulcan, indeed, gave it to 
Jupiter, son of king Saturn : but Jupiter gave it to the 
messenger Mercury : and King Mercury gave it to horse- 
spurring Pelops : but again, Pelops gave it to Atreus, 
shepherd of the people: moreover, Atreus, when dying, left 
it to Thyestes abounding in lambs : but again, Thyestes 
left it to Agamemnon to be borne, that he might reign 
over many islands and all Argos. He, leaning upon this, 
spoke these words among the Argives : " friends, 
Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, Jupiter the son of 
Saturn has entangled me in a very grievous dilemma. 
Cruel ! who formerly promised to me and assented, that 
I should return, after having utterly demolished well- 
fortified Ilium : but now he has practised an unseemly 
fraud, and he orders me inglorious to return to Argos, 
after I have lost much people. So it appears to be 
pleasing to all powerful Jupiter, who has already over- 
thrown the tops of many cities, and will overthrow still 
more ; for the power of him is greatest. For this were 
disgraceful even for posterity to hear, that so many and 
so distinguished forces of the Achaeans should in vain 
carry on an ineffectual war, and fight with men that are 
fewer : and no conclusion yet appears. For if we were 
inclined, both Achseans and Trojans, having struck up a 
faithful treaty, to be enumerated both, the Trojans indeed, 
to be reckoned as many as are citizens, whilst we Achseans 
should be arranged into decades, and should take each 
man of the Trojans to pour out wine, many decades would 
want a cup-bearer. So much I do say the sons of the 
Achaeans are more numerous than the Trojans who dwell 
within the city : but the auxiliaries from many cities are 
spear-brandishing men, who greatly obstruct me, and do 
not suffer me wishing to destroy the well-inhabited town 
of Ilium. Nine years of great Jupiter have now gone by, 
and the timber of the ships is decayed, and the ropes are 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



27 



rotted, and perhaps likewise our own wives and infant 
children are sitting in our houses, expecting us : but the 
work is thus unaccomplished by us, on account of which 
we came hither. But come, let us all comply with what 
I shall say : let us fly with our ships to our dear native 
land : for we shall not now capture wide-streeted Troy." 
So he spake : but he moved the spirit in the breasts of all 
those, among the multitude, as many as heard not his 
counsel. And the assembly was moved, as the long waves 
of the sea, the Icarion sea, which both the east and south 
wind has excited, when it rushes down from the clouds of 
father Jove. And as when the approaching Zephyrus 
shall have moved the long standing corn, violently assail- 
ing it, and it inclines upon the ears; so the entire assembly 
of these was moved, and they, with tumultuous noise, 
hastened to the ships, and the dust was raised aloft from 
beneath their feet : and they encouraged one another to 
lay hold of the ships, and draw them into the divine sea : 
and they cleansed out the channels : and the shout of 
them, eager to return home, reached the heaven : and they 
took away the stays from beneath the ships. Then a re- 
turn would have happened to the Argives, even contrary 
to fate, had not Juno addressed Minerva with these words: 
u Alas ! daughter of iEgis-bearing Jupiter, invincible, are 
the Argives now thus about to fly to their dear native 
land, over the broad ridges of the sea ? and leave behind, 
as a boast to Priam and the Trojans, the Argive Helen, 
on account of whom many of the Achseans perished in 
Troy, far away from their dear native land ? But go now 
to the people of the brazen-mailed Achseans, and detain 
each man with thy gentle words, and suffer them not to 
haul down to the sea the ships that are impelled with oars 
on both sides." She so spake : nor did the azure-eyed 
Minerva disobey, but she went down in haste from the 
tops of Olympus. And rapidly she came to the swift-ships 
of the Achaeans : she then found Ulysses, equal to Jupiter 
in counsel, standing : neither did he touch his well benched 
black ship, for as much as grief had come upon him in 
heart and soul. And the azure-eyed Minerva, standing 



28 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



near, said unto him : tc Noble born son of Laertes, very- 
wily Ulysses, will ye thus now fly home to your dear 
native country, rushing off in your many benched ships ? 
And will ye leave behind, as a boast to Priam and the 
Trojans, the Argive Helen, on account of whom many of 
the Achaeans have perished in Troy, far away from their 
dear native land ? But go now to the people of the 
Achaeans, and cease not : and detain each man with thy 
bland words, and suffer them not to haul down to the sea 
the ships that have oars on both sides." She so said: but 
he understood the voice of the goddess speaking : and he 
proceeded to run, and cast away his cloak : and the herald 
Eurybates the Ithacensian, who accompanied him, took it 
up, and he himself, going to meet Agamemnon son of 
Atreus, received from him his hereditary sceptre, incor- 
ruptible for ever, with which he went through the ships 
of the brazen-mailed Achaeans. Whomsoever, indeed, 
whether king or distinguished man, he would find, him 
he restrained with gentle words, standing beside him : 
" Good sir, it does not become thee to tremble as a coward: 
rather do you yourself sit down, and make the rest of the 
people take their seats : for you do not yet clearly perceive, 
what is the intention of the son of Atreus. Now, indeed, 
he is trying them, but presently he will punish the sons 
of the Achgeans : for we have not all heard what he said 
in council. Let us take care, lest he may in anger do 
some harm to the sons of the Achaeans. For the spirit 
of a noble born king is great, and his honour is from 
Jupiter, and sage Jupiter dearly loves him." But what- 
ever man of the common order he would see, and find 
shouting, him he struck with the sceptre, and rebuked 
with these words : — " Infatuated ; sit at rest, and hear the 
words of others who are superior to thee : but thou art 
unwarlike and cowardly; neither at any time to be 
reckoned in war, nor in council. By no means indeed, 
shall all we Achaaans rule as kings here : nor is the 
government of many a good thing : let there be one ruler, 
one king, to whom the son of wily Saturn has given both 
a sceptre and laws, that he might reign over them." He, 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



29 



so ruling, composed the army : but they hastened again 
to an assembly from the ships and tents with a sound, as 
when a wave of the loud sounding sea roars on the great 
shore, and the ocean resounds. Others, forsooth, sat down 
and kept to their seats, but Thersites yet alone chattered 
in unbounded language, who was well versed in words 
both unseemly and abundant, rashly and without decency 
to contend with the kings • but whatever might seem to 
him to be ridiculous he uttered among the Argives : and 
he was the ugliest man that came to Troy. He was squint- 
eyed, lame of one foot, and his two shoulders were crooked, 
contracted upon his breast : but from above, he was sharp 
in the head, and a thin down grew over it. And he was 
most hateful, especially to Achilles and Ulysses ; for his 
custom was to inveigh against these two in particular. 
Then in turn, shrieking sharply, he uttered reproaches 
against noble Agamemnon : therefore the Achseans were 
terribly in wrath with him, and indignant in soul : 
but he, shouting aloud, reproved Agamemnon with 
these words : " Son of Atreus, of what now do you 
complain, and want ? Your tents are full of brass, and 
there are many select women in your tents, whom we 
Achseans give to thee first of all, whenever we have 
taken a town. Whether are you yet in need of gold, 
which some one of the horse-taming Trojans may bring 
from Ilium, as a ransom of his son, whom I, or some 
other of the Achseans shall bind and lead away ? Or do 
you want a young woman, that you may be mixed in 
love, and whom you may yourself detain away apart ? 
It does not, indeed, become one that is a ruler, to cause 
the sons of the Achseans to embark in evil pursuits. 
effeminate, dastardly cowards, Grecian women, no longer 
Grecian men, let us return home at least, with our ships, 
and suffer him to concoct his rewards there in Troy, in 
order that he may see, whether, forsooth, we are of any 
assistance to him, or not : who, even now, has dis- 
honoured Achilles, a man far better than himself : for he 
seized and holds his prize, having taken it away himself. 
But certainly resentment is not in the mind Achilles, but 



30 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



he is remiss : for otherwise, son of Atreus, it would have 
been now the last insult you had offered." So spake 
Thersites, reproving Agamemnon, shepherd of the people: 
but instantly the noble Ulysses stood by him, and eyeing 
him sternly, he rebuked him with severe words : " Ther- 
sites, intemperate babbler, though you be a shrill 
haranguer, forbear, nor be willing thus alone to contend 
with kings. For I think that there is no other mortal 
worse than thee of all that came along with the sons of 
Atreus to Ilium : wherefore you should not harangue, 
having kings in your mouth, nor cast reproaches on them, 
nor watch for a return. Neither do we by any means 
yet clearly know in what manner these things shall turn 
out ; whether we, sons of the Achseans, shall act well or 
ill in returning. Wherefore you now sit there, reproach- 
ing Agamemnon son of Atreus, shepherd of the people, 
because the Grecian heroes give him very many things : 
you likewise sarcastically harangue. But I declare to 
thee, and this shall also be accomplished, if I shall any 
more find you raving as at present, then no longer may 
the head be upon the shoulders of Ulysses, nor any more 
may I be called the father of Telemachus, if I do not 
take you, and strip off your very clothes, the cloak and 
coat, and what covers your shame, and send you away 
weeping to the swift ships, having lashed you from the 
assembly with hard stripes." So indeed he said : and 
he struck his back and shoulder with his sceptre : but 
he writhed under the stroke, and the tears fell from him 
copiously. And the bloody weal rose upon his back 
from under the golden sceptre, and he sat down and 
trembled with fear ; and grieving, with hideous aspect, 
he wiped off the tears. But they although vexed, 
laughed at him pleasantly : and thus did each one say, 
looking to another near him : " gods, certainly Ulysses 
has done immense good, both initiating good counsels, 
and arranging the war : but now he has done this, 
undoubtedly far the best thing among the Argives, who 
has restrained from his harangues this scurrilous reviler. 
No more again hereafter will his petulant spirit incite 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



31 



him to reprove kings with reproachful words." So 
spake the multitude : but the city-sacking Ulysses 
stood up, holding his sceptre : (and beside him the 
azure -eyed Minerva, having likened herself to a herald, 
ordered the people to be silent, that at the same time 
both the foremost and hindmost sons of the Achseans 
might hear his speech, and consider his counsel :) 
who prudently harangued and said among them : " Son 
of Atreus, now truly, King, the Achseans are willing to 
render thee most opprobrious among all articulate speak- 
ing mortals, nor do they perform to you the promise 
which they made, when proceeding hither from horse- 
feeding Argos, that you should return after having* 
destroyed well-walled Ilium : for, as young boys, or 
widow women, they lament with each other to return 
home. It is, indeed, a hardship to return grieved; for 
one is vexed remaining away from his wife even one 
month with his many beamed ship, which the wintry 
storms and tossing sea detain : and it is the ninth 
revolving year to us remaining here : wherefore I am 
riot indignant that the Achasans are vexed at the beaked 
ships ; but it is entirely disgraceful both to remain long, 
and return empty. Bear it, my friends, and remain for 
a time, until we learn whether Calchas prophesies truly, 
or not. For indeed, we well know this in our mind, and 
ye are all witnesses, whom the fates of death have not 
carried off yesterday and also the day before, when the 
ships of the Achgeans were assembled into Aulis, 
bringing calamities to Priam and the Trojans : but we, 
round about a fountain, were offering to the immortals 
perfect hecatombs upon the sacred altars under a beauti- 
ful plane tree, whence bright water flowed : a great sign 
appeared there : a terrible dragon, spotted on the back, 
which the Olympian himself sent forth to the light, 
gliding from beneath the altar, rushed to the plane tree : 
there the young of a sparrow, unfledged young ones, 
were upon the uppermost branch, crouched under the 
leaves, eight in number, but the mother, which brought 
forth the young, was the ninth : there he devoured them 



32 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



screaming piteously : and the mother flew around, 
bewailing her dear offspring : but having turned himself 
round, he seized her by the wing, flapping loudly. But 
after he had devoured the young of the sparrow and 
herself, the deity, who manifested him, rendered him 
conspicuous indeed, for the son of wily Saturn made him 
a stone ; while we stood wondering at what happened. 
Thus then, the awful portents of the gods attended the 
hecatombs. And upon that, Calchas immediately ad- 
dressed us, explaining their import : c Wherefore are ye 
become mute, ye hair-crested Achseans ? The sage 
Jupiter, indeed, has manifested to us this great prodigy, 
late, of late accomplishment, the glory of which shall 
never perish. As the same has devoured the young of 
the sparrow and herself, eight in number, but the mother 
was the ninth, which brought forth the young : so we 
shall carry on the war so many years here, but on the 
tenth we shall capture the wide-streeted city/ He even 
so announced ; which things indeed, are all now in course 
of fulfilment. Come then, well greaved Acheeans, remain 
all here, until we take the great city of Priam." 

He so spake : but the Argives shouted aloud (whilst 
the ships on ail sides gave a terrible echo under the 
shouting Achseans,) praising the speech of the divine 
Ulysses. Then the Gerenian horseman, Nestor, said 
among them : " gods, ye are really talking like infant 
children, which have no concern whatever for works of 
war. Where now shall our compacts and our oaths go 
from us ? Shall the counsels now go away into the fire, 
and also the anxieties of men, and the pure libations, and 
the right hands, on which we relied ? For we contend in 
words to no purpose, neither can we find out any remedy, 
though being a long time here. But do thou, son of 
Atreus, still as before, having a firm counsel, command 
the Argives throughsevere conflicts, and suffer those one or 
two to perish, who, apart from the Achaeans, are planning 
(but there shall be no completion of their design,) their 
return to Argos, ere they even know whether the promise 
of iEgis-bearing Jupiter be false, or not. For I say, 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



33 



indeed, that the all-powerful son of Saturn assented on 
that day when the Greeks embarked in their swift-sailing 1 
ships, bringing fatal destruction to the Trojans, when he 
thundered on the right hand, shewing auspicious signs. 
Wherefore let none be in haste to return home, before 
that each one shall lie with a wife of the Trojans, and 
avenge the rape and groans of Helen. But if any one 
is exceedingly desirous to return home, let him touch his 
own well-benched black ship, in order that he may meet 
death and fate before others. But, king, do thou thy- 
self both plan well, and hearken to another. The word 
must by no means be rejected, whatsoever I shall say : 
separate the men into companies and into wards, 
Agamemnon, that ward may assist ward, and companies 
may assist companies. But if you shall do so, and the 
Acheeans be obedient to thee, then thou shalt know, 
which of the leaders is dastardly, and also which of the 
forces ; and which may be brave, for they will fight by 
themselves ; and you will ascertain whether you are des- 
tined not to take the city by Heaven's decree, or by the 
dastardly conduct of the men, and their unskilfulness in 
war/'' But king Agamemnon, answering, said unto him: 
" Truly, indeed, old man, you again excel the sons of the 
Achseans in prudent advice. For, would to father Jupiter 
and Minerva and Apollo ! that I had ten such counsellors 
of the Achaaans : in that case the city of king Priam 
would soon totter to the ground, being both taken and 
demolished by our own hands. But ^Egis-bearing Jupiter 
son of Saturn, has given me woes, who throws me into 
useless strifes and contentions. For even I and Achilles 
have contended on account of the young maid, with ad- 
verse words : and I began first to be offended : but if 
ever we shall consult together with unity of counsel, no 
longer then will there be a delay of evil to the Trojans, 
not even the slightest. Now then, go away to supper, 
that we may engage in battle. Let each one sharpen his 
spear well, and prepare his shield well, and let each one give 
supper well to his swift-footed horses, andlet each one look- 
ing well round his chariot, meditate on war, that we may 



34 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



contend the whole day in stubborn battle. For there shall 
be no intermission, not even the slightest, unless night, ap- 
proaching, shall separate the strength of the men. Indeed 
many a one's belt of his all-protecting shield shall sweat 
aroundhisbreast, and he shallbe tiredas to hishandaround 
his spear : and many a one's horse shall sweat, drawing 
the well-polished chariot. But whomsoever I shall 
perceive, apart from the battle, wishing to tarry at the 
curved ships, no longer then will it be possible for him 
to escape the dogs and birds of prey." So he spake : but 
the Greeks shouted aloud, as when a wave resounds on the 
precipitous shore, when the approaching South-wind shall 
move it against the projecting cliff, which the waves never 
abandon, whatever way the winds may blow, when they arise 
on this side and on that side. And rising up they made 
haste, being dispersed among the ships, and they excited 
a smoke through the tents, and took supper. And each 
did sacrifice to a different one of the ever-existing gods, 
praying that he might escape death and the crisis of 
Mars. But Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat 
ox, five years old, to the omnipotent son of Saturn : and 
he invited the senior chiefs of all the Achseans, Nestor 
indeed first of all, and king Idomeneus, and then the two 
Ajaxes, and the son of Tydeus, and also Ulysses the sixth, 
equivalent to Jupiter in counsel. But Menelaus, expert 
in the fight, came to him of his own accord : for he was 
aware, in his brotherly mind, how he laboured : and they 
stood around the ox, and held up the cakes. And king 
Agamemnon, praying, said among them : " Jupiter, 
most glorious, most mighty, collecting black clouds, 
dwelling in the air, let not the sun go down, and dark- 
ness come on, before that I tumble down to the ground 
the palace of Priam, set on fire, and burn the gates with 
consuming fire : and rend Hector's coat of mail around 
his breast, pierced with the sword, and many companions 
around him, prostrate in the dust, catch the ground with 
their teeth." He so spake : but the son of Saturn did 
not yet accomplish it for him : but he accepted indeed 
the sacrifices, and increased the immense labour. But 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



35 



after they had prayed, and sprinkled the meal, they then 
drew back the neck first, and cnt the throat, and took 
off the skin, and cut out the thighs, and wrapped them 
round with the caul, having made them two fold, and 
they put raw pieces upon them : and these indeed they 
roasted upon cleft wood without leaves, and fixing the 
entrails on forks, they held them over the fire. But as 
soon as the thighs were sufficiently roasted, and they had 
tasted the entrails, they cut the rest into bits, and fixed 
them on spits, and roasted them very skilfully, and drew 
them all off. Then when they had ceased from labour, 
and got ready the banquet, they feasted, nor did their 
soul, in the least degree, lack an adequate feast. But 
after they had taken away the desire of drink and food, 
the Gerenian horseman Nestor began to speak among 
them : " Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king 
of men, let us no longer now waste time here, nor longer 
defer the work, which the deity now puts into our hands. 
But come, let the heralds of the brazen-mailed Achseans, 
proclaiming, assemble the people to the ships, and let us 
thus in a body go through the wide army of the Greeks, 
in order that we may the more quickly stir up keen Mars/' 
He so spake : nor did Agamemnon, king of men, disobey: 
forthwith he ordered the shrill-voiced heralds to call the 
hair-crested Achasans to battle. These indeed proclaimed 
and they were assembled very quickly. But the noble 
born kings around the son of Atreus made haste in 
separating the ranks : and amongst them the azure-eyed 
Minerva, having a very precious .ZEgis, exempt from old 
age, and immortal : from which an hundred fringes, all 
golden, were suspended, all well plaited, and each one 
worth a hundred bulls. With this, rushing on with 
violence, she hastened through the people of the Greeks, 
exciting them to go on : and she stirred up strength 
in the heart of every one, to carry on the war and 
battle without intermission. And instantly the war 
became sweeter to them than to return in their hollow 
ships to their dear native country. And as when con- 
suming fire burns an immense wood in the summits of a 



36 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



mountain, and the brightness appears from a distance, 
so, whilst they were advancing, the lustre, issuing forth 
on all sides from the admirable brass, went thro' the 
air to heaven. And as numerous flocks of winged fowls, 
geese, or cranes, or long-necked swans, disporting with 
their wings, fly hither and thither in the plain of Asias, 
around Cayster's streams, and, as with clamour they light 
down before one another, the meadow resounds; thus 
the numerous tribes of those, from the ships and tents, 
poured themselves forth into the plain of Scamander, 
whilst the ground terribly resounded under the feet both 
of themselves and the horses. And they stood in the 
flowery meadow of Scamander, innumerable, as the leaves 
and flowers grow in Spring. As many swarms of thick 
flies which wander through a shepherd's fold in the vernal 
season when milk moistens the pails, so many hair- 
crested Acheeans stood on the plain against the Trojans, 
eager to rend them asunder. And as goatherds easily 
distinguish their broad flocks of goats, after they have 
been mixed in the pasture, so the leaders marshalled these 
on this side and that side, to go to battle : and among 
them King Agamemnon, like to thunder-delighting Jup- 
iter as to his eyes and head, but to Mars as to his belt, 
and to Neptune as to his breast. And as a bull in a herd 
is by far the most eminent of all (for he excels amongst 
the assembled heifers) : such did Jupiter make the son of 
Atreus on that day, conspicuous and distinguished among 
many heroes. 

Sing now to me, ye Muses, having Olympian habita- 
tions (for ye are goddesses, and are present and know 
all things, but we hear the fame only, nor do we know 
anything): who were the leaders and rulers of the Greeks. 
But I could not recount the multitude, nor mention their 
names, not even if I had ten tongues and ten mouths, 
and a voice that could not be broken and a brazen heart 
were in me : unless ye, heavenly muses, daughters of 
^Egis-bearing Jove, should relate how many came under 
Ilium. But I will mention the commanders of the ships, 
and the ships in general. The Boeotians, indeed, Peneleus 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



37 



and Leitus commanded, and Arcesilaus, and Prothcenor, 
and Olonius : and those who inhabited Hyrie, and rocky 
Aulis, and Schoenus, and Scolus, and the hilly Eteonus, 
and Thespia, and Graea, and spacious Mycalessus : and 
those who dwelt around Harma, and Ilesius, and Erythree, 
and who possessed Eleon, and Hyle, and Peteon, Ocalea, 
and Medeon, a well-built town, Copse, and Eutresis, and 
Thisbe abounding in doves. Also those who possessed 
Coronea, and grassy Haliartus, and Plataea, and who 
inhabited Glissas, and who possessed Hypothebse, a well- 
built town, and the sacred Onchestus, the fair grove of 
Neptune : and those who possessed Arne abounding in 
grapes, and Midea, and elegant Nissa, and extreme 
Anthedon. Of these, indeed, fifty ships went forth, and 
in each one, an hundred and twenty youths of the Boeo- 
tians embarked. And those who inhabited Aspledon, 
and the Minyean Orchomenus, these Ascalaphus and 
Ialmenus, sons of Mars, commanded, whom the bashful 
virgin Astyoche, having ascended an upper room, brought 
forth to the brave Mars, in the house of Actor the son of 
Azis : but he lay with her secretly : and of these, thirty 
hollow ships proceeded in order. Moreover, Schedius and 
Epistrophus, sons of Iphitus the magnanimous son of 
Naubolis, commanded the Phocensians, who possessed 
Cyparissus, and rocky Pytho, and exquisite Crissa, and 
Daulis, and Panopsea, and those who dwelt around Ane- 
moria, and Hyampolis, and who dwelt at the noble river 
Cephissus, and who possessed Lilaea, at the source of 
Cephissus; and these, forty black ships accompanied. 
They indeed, going around, marshalled the ranks of the 
Phocensians, and they were drawn up in battle array 
near the Boeotians on the left wing. 

And Swift Ajax, son of Oileus led on the Locrians : 
(the less, by no means so great indeed as the Telamonian 
Ajax, but much less : little indeed he was, wearing a 
linen corslet, but he had been distinguished in the use of 
the spear among all the Greeks and Ackeeans :) who in- 
habited Cynus, and Opois, and Calliarus, and Bessa, and 
Scarphe, and the lovely Auggea,and Tarphe, and Thronius, 

c 



38 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



around the streams of Boagrium. And forty black ships 
accompanied him of the Locrians, who dwell beyond the 
sacred Euba3a. Also the strength-breathing Abantes who 
possessed Eubaea, and Chalcis, and Eretria, and Histiaea 
abounding in grapes, and Maritime Cerinthus, and the 
lofty town of Dion, and who possessed Carystus, and who 
inhabited Styra : of these likewise, Elephenor was the 
leader, branch of Mars, son of Chalcodontis, prince of the 
magnanimous Abantes: and in company with him followed 
the swift Abantes, wearing the hair bushy behind, spears- 
men, eager with extended ashen spears to rend the breast 
plates around the breasts of their enemies. And along 
with him forty black ships followed on. Moreover, those 
who possessed the well situated city Athens, the state of 
the magnanimous Erechtheus, whom formerly Minerva 
daughter of Jupiter, nurtured (but the bounteous earth 
brought forth,) and placed him in Athens in her own rich 
temple : there the youths of the Athenians propitiate him 
with bulls and lambs at the completion of each revolving 
year. These, likewise, Menestheus, the son of Peteus, 
commanded. Nor was there ever any earthly man like to 
him in marshalling horses and shielded men : Nestor was 
alone capable of contending with him, for he was greater 
in age : and fifty black ships followed him in company. 
But Ajax led twelve ships from Salamis, and leading, he 
stationed them where the lines of the Athenians took their 
stand. Those also who possessed Argos, and well forti- 
fied Tiryns, Hermione and Asine having a deep bay, 
Trcezen, and Eionae, and vine-planted Epidaurus, and the 
youths of the Achasans who possessed -ZEgina, and Mases: 
the leader of these also was Diomedes expert in battle, 
and Sthenelus, the dearson of the very renowned Capaneus: 
and together with them Euryalus went the third, a man 
like to a god, the son King Mecisteus, sprung from Talaus. 
But Diomedes, expert in battle, was leader of the entire 
body : and eighty black ships at the same time followed 
these. Likewise those who possessed Mycenas, a well 
situated town, and wealthy Corinth, and well-built Cleonaa, 
and inhabited Orniae, and lovely Araathyrea, and Sicyon r 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



39 



where Adrastus first reigned, and those who possessed 
Hyperesia and lofty Gonoessa, and Pellene, and dwelt 
around iEgium, and along all the maritime coast, and 
around spacious Helice : of these, King Agamemnon, son 
of Atreus, commanded a hundred ships : and by far the 
most numerous and excellent forces accompanied him : 
and he himself put on resplendent brass, exulting in glory, 
because he excelled amongst all heroes, for as much as he 
was the most distinguished, and led far the most numer- 
ous forces. Those also who possessed the extensive 
Lacedsemon, embosomed in hills, and inhabited Pharis, 
and Sparta, and Messa abounding in doves, and Brysise, 
and the lovely AugiaB, and who possessed Amyclse, and 
Helos, a maritime town, and who possessed Laas, and 
dwelt around CEtylus : of these, his brother Menelaus, 
expert in battle, commanded sixty ships, but they were 
drawn up apart by themselves. And he himself went 
among them, relying on his own courageous spirit, in- 
citing them to the war : for he was most especially eager 
in soul to avenge the ravishment and groans of Helen. 
Moreover, those who inhabited Pylus, and lovely Arene, 
and dwelt in Thryus, the passage of the Alpheus, and the 
well-built ^Epy, and Cyparisseis, and Amphigenia, and 
Pteleus, and Helos, and Dorion : where also the muses 
meeting Thamyris the Thracian spoiled him of song, 
when coming from CEchalia, from CEchalian Eurytus : for 
he boastingly affirmed that he could gain the victory, 
even though the muses themselves, daughters of iEgis- 
bearing Jupiter, were to sing. But they, being angry, 
made him blind, whilst they took away his divine song, 
and made him forgetful of his art of playing the harp. 
Of these likewise, the Gerenian horseman Nestor was the 
leader : and with him ninety hollow ships proceeded in 
order. And those who possessed Arcadia, under tho 
lofty mountain of Cyllene, near the ^Epytian monument, 
where are men that fight in close combat, and who in- 
habited Pheneus, and Orchomenus abounding in sheep, 
and possessed Ripe, and Stratie, and the windy Enispe, 
and Tegea, and lovely Mantinea, and possessed Stym- 



40 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



phelus, and inhabited Parrhasia : of these, the son of 
Ancaeus, King Agapenor, commanded sixty ships : and 
many Arcadian men embarked in each ship, skilled in 
military achievements. For the son of Atreus himself, 
Agamemnon, king of men, had given them well-benched 
ships to pass over the purple main ; seeing that marine 
pursuits were not a concern to them. And those, for- 
sooth, who inhabited Buprasium and noble Elis, as far as 
the tract extended, which Hyrmine,and extreme Myrsinus, 
and the Olenian Rock, and Alisium bound within : of 
these too there were four commanders, and ten swift 
ships followed each man, and many Bpeans embarked in 
them. Some of these indeed Amphimachus and Thalpius 
conducted, sons, the one of Cleatus, and the other of 
Burytus of Actor : and the brave Diores, son of Ama- 
rynceus commanded some : and the godlike Polyxenus 
commanded the fourth, the son of Agasthenus, son of 
King Augeus. Likewise those from Dulichium, and the 
sacred Isles of the Echinades, which lie beyond the sea 
opposite to Elis : these indeed Meges led on, the son of 
Phyleus, equivalent to Mars, whom the horseman Phyleus, 
dear to Jupiter, begat, who formerly migrated to Duli- 
chium, having been angry with his father : and forty 
black ships followed him in train. Moreover, Ulysses 
conducted the magnanimous Cephallenians, who forsooth 
possessed Ithaca, and the leaf-shaking Neritus, and 
inhabited Crocylea, and rough .ZEgilips, and who pos- 
sessed Zacynthus, and who inhabited Samos, and who 
possessed Epirus, and inhabited the tract of country on 
the opposite coast : these indeed Ulysses commanded, 
equivalent in counsel to Jupiter : and twelve red-prowed 
ships followed him in train. 

But Thoas, the son of Andraomon, was leader of the 
iEtolians, who inhabited Pleuron, and Olenus, and Pylene, 
and Chalcis bordering the sea, and Rocky Calydon : for 
the sons of great spirited Oeneus were not now extant, 
neither likewise was he himself yet in being, moreover 
the swarthy Meleager was dead. To him therefore had 
been committed the chief command over the ^Etolians : 
and forty black ships accompanied him. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



41 



But the spear-famed Idoineneus governed the Cretians, 
who possessed Cnossus, and well-fortified Gortyn, and 
Lyctus, and Miletus, and Snow-white Lycastus, and 
Phoestus, and Kytium, goodly situated cities, and the 
rest who inhabited Crete possessed of a hundred cities. 
These forsooth, the spear-famed Idomeneus commanded, 
and Meriones equal to the man-slaying Mars : and eighty 
black ships followed them in train. 

Moreover, Tlepolemus, the son of Hercules, both brave 
and great, led from Ehodos nine ships of the proud 
Ehodians, who inhabited Rhodos, being arranged in three 
divisions, Lindus, and Ialyssus, and white Camirus. Of 
these indeed, the spear-famed Tlepolemus was the leader, 
whom Astyochia brought forth to the mighty Hercules, 
whom he had taken out of Ephyra, from the river Selleis, 
having destroyed many cities of noble born young men. 
But Tlepolemus, as soon as he had grown up in a well 
built house, forthwith slew the dear uncle of his own 
father, the now aged Licymnius, branch of Mars : but 
instantly he built ships, and when he had collected much 
people, he flew away upon the sea : for the other sons 
and grand sons of the powerful Hercules had threatened 
him. However, he came wandering to Rhodos, suffering 
hardships. And they dwelt in tribes, distinguished into 
three bodies, and were beloved of Jupiter who rules over 
gods and men : and the son of Saturn poured upon them 
immense wealth. 

Nireus also led three equal ships from Syme, Nireus 
the son of Aglaia and King Charopus, Nireus the most 
beautiful man that came to Ilium, of the other Greeks, 
after the blameless son of Peleus, but he was unwarlike, 
and few forces followed him. 

Those moreover, who possessed Nisurus, and Crapathus, 
and Casus, and Coos, the city of Burypylus, and the Isles 
Calydnae : these too, Phidippus and Antiphus, the two 
sons of Thessalus, the son of King Hercules conducted : 
and of these, thirty hollow ships proceeded in order. 
Now those again, as many as inhabited the Pelasgian 
Argos, and who dwelt in Alos, and Alope, and Trachin, 



42 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEK. 



and who possessed Phthia, and Hellas possessing beauti- 
ful women, but they were called Myrmidons, and Hellenes, 
and Achaeans : of these also, Achilles was the commander 
of fifty ships. But these were not mindful of the hard- 
sounding war, for there was no one to lead them in ranks, 
seeing that the swift-footed noble Achilles lay at the ships, 
being angry on account of the maid, the beautiful-haired 
Briseis, whom he took away from Lyrnessus, having 
endured many labours, laying waste Lyrnessus, and the 
walls of Thebes : moreover, he overthrew Mynes and 
Epistrophus, practised in the spear, sons of Euenus, the 
son of king Selepias : he lay grieving on account of her, 
but he was destined soon to rise up again. And those 
who possessed Phylace, and the flowery Pyrrhasus the 
sacred ground of Ceres, and Iton, the mother of sheep, 
and Antron bordering on the sea, and grassy Pteleus : 
these indeed, the martial Protesilaus commanded, while 
he lived, but then the black earth now confined him. 
Also his wife, lacerated in both cheeks, had been left in 
Phylace, and his house was half-built : for a Dardan man 
killed him leaping from his ship by far the foremost of 
the Achaeans. Neither yet were even they without a leader, 
though they regretted the loss of their own leader : but 
Podarces, branch of Mars, arranged them in ranks, the son 
of Iphiclus, the very wealthy son of Phylacus, brother 
german of the magnanimous Protesilaus, later in birth: but 
indeed the warlike hero Protesilaus was older and superior. 
But by no means were the forces in want of a leader, 
although they regretted the loss of their own valiant one. 
And forty black ships followed him in train. 

Those also who inhabited Pheras near the Bcebean lake, 
Boebe, and Glaphyrge, and the well-built Iaolcus, of these 
the dear son of Admetus commanded eleven ships, 
Eumelus, whom Alcestis, the noblest of women, the most 
beautiful of the daughters of Pelias, bore to Admetus. 
And those who inhabited Methone and Thaumacia, and 
possessed Melibaea, and rough Olizon, of these Philoctetes 
well-skilled in the bow, commanded seven ships, and in 
each one embarked fifty rowers, well-skilled in fighting 



THE ILIAC OF HOMER. 



43 



vigorously with the bow. But he indeed, lay suffering 
bitter pangs in the divine island Lemnos, where the sons 
of the Achaoans had left him labouring under the deadly 
wound of a pernicious water snake. There he lay grieving: 
but the Argives were soon about to remember King 
Philoctetes at the ships. Neither yet were even they 
without a leader, though they regretted the loss of their 
prince ; but Medon set their ranks in order, the spurious 
son of Oileus, whom, forsooth, Rhena brought forth by 
the city-sacking Oileus. 

Those also who possessed Tricca, and hilly Ithome, 
and who possessed (Echalia, the city of the CEchalian 
Enrytus ; of these, likewise, the leaders were the two 
sons of iEsculapius, the good Physicians Podalirius 
and Machaon : and with them thirty hollow ships pro- 
ceeded in order. Those too, who possessed Ormenius, 
and the Hyperean fountain, and who possessed Asterion, 
and the white tops of Titanus; these, Eurypylus, the 
illustrious son of Euaemon, commanded : and forty black 
ships followed him in company. And those who possessed 
Argissa, and dwelt in Gyrtone, Orthe, and Elone, and the 
white city Oloosson, these likewise the war-enduring 
Polypoetes led on, the son of Pirithous whom the immortal 
Jupiter begat. Him, forsooth, the celebrated Hippodamia 
brought forth by Pirithous on that day when he avenged 
the shaggy centaurs, and expelled them from Pelion, and 
drove them as far as the .ZEthicesians : not alone, along 
with him indeed was Leonteus, branch of Mars, son of 
the high-minded Coronus the son of Caeneus : and forty 
black ships together followed them. And Guneus led two 
and twenty ships from Cyphus : and the Enienes followed 
him, and the war-enduring Perrhasbi, who placed their 
habitations around the very cold Dodona, and who culti- 
vated the lands about the lovely Titaresius, which, forsooth, 
casts its beautiful flowing water into the Peneus, nor does 
it blend itself with the silver-eddied Peneus, but swims on 
its surface, like oil : for it is a branch of the water of Styx, 
the awful oath. But Prothous, the son of Tenthredon, 
commanded the Magnetes, who dwelt around Peneus and 



44 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the leaf-shaking Pelion ; these indeed the swift Prothous 
commanded, and forty black ships followed him together. 

These, then, were the leaders and governors of the 
Greeks. Which now of these was by far the most dis- 
tinguished, do thou tell to me, Muse, of themselves and 
the horses, which accompanied the sons of Atreus ? The 
horses, indeed, of the son of Pheretias were by far the 
most excellent, which Eumelus rode, swift-footed as birds, 
of similar colour and age, by measurement equal in 
height: which the silver-bowed Apollo nourished in Pieria, 
both female, carrying the terror of Mars. But of the 
men by far the most distinguished was the Telamonian 
Ajax, whilst Achilles continued angry : for he was much 
the bravest, likewise the horses which carried the blame- 
less son of Peleus. But he, indeed, lay at the curved 
sea-passing ships, cherishing wrath against Agamemnon 
son of Atreus, shepherd of the people : but his forces 
amused themselves along the sea shore, hurling with the 
quoit, and spear, and the bow ; and their horses stood, 
each beside his own chariot, eating lotus and marsh- 
grown parsley : but the well-joined chariots lay in the 
tents of their rulers, and they, longing for a war-loving 
commander, sauntered here and there through the camp, 
but did not engage in battle. 

They, meanwhile, advanced, as though the entire ground 
were fed with fire, and the earth groaned beneath, as when 
thunder-delighting Jupiter is angry, when he lashes the 
earth about Typhoeus, in Arima, where they say that the 
bed of Typhoeus is : thus truly, the earth loudly resounded 
under the feet of them proceeding, and they very quickly 
passed through the plain. 

But the swift wind-footed Iris came as a messenger to 
the Trojans, from ^Egis-bearing Jupiter, with the mourn- 
ful tidings. And they were holding a council at the 
doors of Priam, all assembled together, both young and 
old : and the swift-footed Iris, standing near, addressed 
them : but she likened herself to Polites the son of 
Priam, as to voice, who, relying on the swiftness of his 
feet, sat as the scout of the Trojans, on the highest 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



45 



tomb of the old .zEsyetes, watching the time when the 
Greeks would embark in their ships : swift-footed Iris, 
having likened herself to him, said unto Priam : " old 
man, endless speeches are ever pleasing to you, as 
formerly in the time of peace ; but war inevitable has 
arisen. Very often indeed, have I been present in the 
battles of men, but never yet have I beheld such 
numerous and great forces : for, exceedingly like to 
leaves or sand, they march through the plain, about to 
fight around the city. Hector, I charge you especially 
to act thus : (seeing that many auxiliaries are throughout 
the great city of Priam, and the tongue of widely dis- 
persed men is different from one another :) let each man 
direct those over whom he presides, and let him be their 
leader, marshalling his own citizens." She so spake : 
but Hector was by no means ignorant of the speech of 
the goddess, and forthwith he dismissed the assembly : 
and they rushed to arms : and the whole gate was opened 
wide, and the forces issued forth, both infantry and 
cavalry, and much tumult was excited. Now there is a 
certain lofty mound just before the city, at a distance in 
the plain, accessible on every side, which men indeed, 
call Batiea, but the gods, the sepulchre of the very 
nimble Myrinne : there then both the Trojans and 
auxilaries were distinguished into ranks. 

The great helmet-waving Hector son of Priam was, 
indeed, the leader of the Trojans : and with him far the 
most numerous and most excellent forces were armed, 
ready with spears. Likewise, iEneas, the valiant son of 
Anchises, commanded the Dardans, whom the divine 
Venus brought forth by Anchises in the nether parts of 
Ida, the goddess having lain in bed with a mortal : not 
alone, for along with him were the two sons of Antenor, 
Archilochus, and Acamas, well versed in every mode of 
fight. 

But those who inhabited Zelea, under the lowest foot 
of Ida, wealthy Trojans, drinking the black water of 
^Esepus ; these also the illustrious son of Lycaon com- 
manded, Pandarus to whom even Apollo himself had 



46 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



given a bow. And those also, who possessed Adrastea, 
and the State of Apaasus, and possessed Pityea, and the 
high mountain of Terea, these Adrastus commanded, and 
also Amphius wearing a linen corslet, two sons of the 
Percosian Merops, who had been skilled in the prophetic 
art above all, neither was he inclined to permit his own 
sons to proceed to the man-destroying war : but they by 
no means obeyed him : for the fates of gloomy death 
carried them on. 

Those likewise, who dwell around Percote and Practium, 
and possessed Sestus and Abidos, and noble Arisbe ; 
these too, Asius the son of Hyrtacus, prince of men, 
commanded, Asius son of Hyrtacus, whom splendid, large 
horses carried from Arisbe, from the river Selleis. But 
Hippothous led on the tribes of the spear-practised 
Pelasgians, those who inhabited the very glebous Laidssa: 
these Hippothous commanded, and Pylseus, branch of 
Mars, the two sons of Lethus, son of the Pelasgian 
Teutamis. Moreover, Acamas, and the hero Pirous led 
on the Thracians, as many as the rapid-flowing Hellespont 
contains within it. And Euphemus, the son of Troezenus, 
the Jove-bred son of Ceas, was commander of the Cico- 
nian spearmen. Likewise, Pyraechmes led the Pa3onians 
using curved bows, far away from Aznydon, from the 
widely flowing Axius, Axius, whose water is diffused the 
fairest over the earth. But the courageous heart of 
Pylsemenes led on the Paphlagonians from the Eneti, 
whence is the race of wild mules, who, forsooth, posses- 
sed Cytorus, and dwelt around Sesamus, and inhabited 
famous mansions about the river Parthenius, and Oromna, 
and Aegialus, and the lofty Ery thine hills. But Hodius 
and Epistrophus commanded the Halizones, from Alybe 
far away, whence there is a rich supply of silver. And 
Chromis commanded the Mysians, and Ennomus the 
Augur, but he did not by his Auguries deliver himself 
from a gloomy fate : but he was laid low by the hands of 
the swift-footed grandson of -ZEacus, in the river, where 
he made exceeding havoc of the other Trojans also. 
Moreover, Phorcys and the godlike Ascanius conducted 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



47 



the Phrygians from distant Ascania, and they were eager 
to engage in the conflict. Also Mesthles and Antiphus 
were leaders of the Masonians, the two sods of Talaemenes, 
whom the lake Gyg86a bore, who also led the Maeonians, 
born under Tmolus. Nastes, in like manner, commanded 
the barbarous speaking Carians, who possessed Miletus, 
and the leaf abounding mountain of the Phthirines, and 
the streams of Mseander, and the lofty tops of Mycaie. 
These, indeed, Amphimachus and Nastes conducted, 
Nastes and Amphimachus, the illustrious sons of Nomion, 
who went to the war carrying his gold, like a little girl, 
foolish man : nor did this prove of any avail in preserving 
him from bitter death, but he was slain by the hands of 
the swift-footed grandson of iEacus, in the river, and 
the warlike Achilles took away the gold. But Sarpedon 
commanded the Lycians, and the blameless Glaucus, out 
of the distant Lycia, from the eddy Xanthus. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



THIRD BOOK. 



But after they had been put in order, each along with 
their leaders, the Trojans went with a clangor and noise 
as if birds : just as is the clangor of cranes in the open 
air, which, after they have escaped a storm and an im- 
mense shower, fly with a clangor over the streams of 
Oceanus, carrying death and destruction to the Pygmean 
men : and even aloft they show forth noxious contention. 
But the Achaeans, on the other hand, went in silence, 
breathing strength, eager in soul to support one another. 
As when the south wind spreads a cloud over the summit 
of a mountain, to the shepherd by no means agreeable, 
but to the thief even more serviceable than night, and one 
sees just so far as he throws a stone, so indeed the dust, 
excited as by a tempest, rose under the feet of them ad- 
vancing : and they very quickly passed through the plain. 
But when they were now near, coming against each other, 
the godlike Alexander advanced in front of the line of the 
Trojans, having a leopard's skin upon his shoulders, and 
bent bows and a sword : and brandishing two spears 
pointed with steel, he challenged all the bravest of the 
Argives to fight against him in stern conflict. But as 
soon as Mars-loved Menelaus perceived him advancing in 
front of the band with long strides, he rejoiced as a hungry 
lion when happening on a large body, finding either a 
horned stag, or a wild goat ; for he devours it greedily, 
even though swift dogs and blooming youths pursue him : 
so Menelaus rejoiced, when he beheld with his eyes god- 
like Alexander, for he thought that he would take venge- 
ance on the offender : and he instantly leaped from his 



50 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



chariot with his arms to the ground. Bat as soon as 
godlike Alexander perceived him appearing in the front 
line, he was smitten in his heart : and he retired back 
into the body of his companions, shunning death. And 
as when any one in the recesses of a mountain, seeing a 
serpent, has started back with a bound, and tremor has 
seized his limbs beneath, and he has retired back, and 
paleness has seized his cheeks : so godlike Alexander 
went back into the band of the proud Trojans, through 
fear of the son of Atreus. But when Hector saw him, he 
rebuked him with reproachful words : " Ill-fated Paris, 
most elegant inappearance, insane with the love of women, 
deceiver, O that you had either been unborn, or had died 
unmarried, and this I would prefer, and it would have 
been much more useful, than thus to be both a disgrace 
and spectacle of others : surely the hair-crested Achgeans 
laugh heartily, thinking you to be our chief champion, 
because you have a'fine appearance, but there is neither 
fortitude in your mind, nor any vigour. Being of such a 
stamp, having sailed over the sea in sea-passing ships, 
having collected amiable companions, being mixed with 
men of other lands, hast thou led away a very beautiful 
woman from the Apian land, the spouse of warlike 
men, to the great detriment of thine own father, 
and the city, and the whole state ; to our foes indeed a 
source of joy, but a disgrace to thyself ? Couldst thou 
not have awaited Mars-loved Menelaus ? Then thou 
shouldst have known what description of man he is, whose 
blooming wife thou hast. Thy harp would not profit thee, 
and the gifts of Venus, and thy hair and comeliness, when 
thou shouldest be mixed with the dust. But the Trojans 
are very timorous; otherwise already hadst thou been 
covered with a coat of stone, on account of the evils which 
thou hast done." But godlike Alexander on the other 
hand said unto him : " Hector, since you have rebuked 
me justly, and not beyond my desert : (your heart is 
always unwearied, as the axe which goes through 
wood, under the impulse of a man, who with skill cuts off 
timber for a ship, and adds to the force of the man; so 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



51 



the spirit in your breast is undismayed) : do not cast up 
to me the amiable gifts of golden Yenus ; by no means 
are the illustrious gifts of the gods to be rejected, as many 
as they themselves may give ; but no one could take them 
of his own will. But now, if you wish me to fight and 
engage in combat, make the other Trojans and all the 
Greeks sit down, but cause me and the Mars-loved Mene- 
laus to meet in the middle space, to fight for Helen and 
all her possessions ; and whoever of the two shall conquer 
and be superior, let him, having taken all the possessions 
entirely, and the woman, carry them home : but let the 
rest of you, after striking up friendship and a faithful 
league, dwell in fertile Troy, but let them return to horse- 
feeding Argos and Achaia having beautiful women." He 
so said : but Hector rejoiced greatly, when he heard the 
speech, and going into the middle he restrained the 
armed lines of the Trojans, grasping his spear by the 
middle ; and they all took their seats. But the hair- 
crested Greeks were bending their bows at him, and were 
aiming to strike him both with arrows and stones. But 
Agamemnon, king of men, shouted loudly : " Withhold ye 
Argives, hurl not, ye youths of the Achseans ; for crest- 
waving Hector seems as if intending to propose something." 
He so spake : but they abstained from battle, and instantly 
became silent : and Hector spoke between the parties. 

" Hear from me, ye Trojans and well-greaved Achaoans, 
the speech of Alexander, on account of whom the conten- 
tion has arisen : he orders the rest of the Trojans and all 
the Greeks to put off their beautiful arms upon the many- 
supporting ground, and that he himself and warlike 
Menelaus should fight alone in the middle, concerning 
Helen and all her possessions. But whichever of 
the two shall conquer, and be superior, let him, 
having taken all the possessions entirely, and the woman, 
carry them home : but the rest of us shall strike up 
friendship and faithful leagues." He so spake : but they 
all became mute in silence : and Menelaus brave in battle 
at once spoke among them : iC Hear now me also, for this 
anguish most especially comes upon my mind : but I am 



52 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



determined that now the Argives and Trojans shall be 
separated, since ye have suffered many severe hardships 
on account of my contention, and in consequence of the 
first wicked act of Alexander. And for whichever of us 
two death and fate have been prepared, let him die : but 
let the rest of you be separated as soon as possible. 
Bring now lambs, one white and another black, for both 
the earth and the sun : and we will bring another for 
Jupiter. Bring also the influence of Priam, in order that 
he may strike the leagues himself, seeing that his sons 
are covenant-breakers and faithless, lest any one by 
transgression should violate the leagues of Jupiter. For 
the minds of the younger men are ever unstable : but for 
those amongst whom a senior is present, he perceives at 
the same time the future and the past, so that by far the 
best results may happen to both parties." Thus he said : 
but they rejoiced, both Achaaans and Trojans, hoping that 
they would end the calamitous war, And they drew up 
the horses in ranks, and dismounted themselves, and put 
off their arms, and laid them down upon the ground near 
each other, and there was little space between. But 
Hector sent two heralds to the city in haste, both to bring 
lambs and to call Priam. In like manner King Agamem- 
non despatched Talthybius to go to the hollow ships, 
and he ordered him to bring a lamb : and he indeed, was 
not disobedient unto noble Agamemnon. 

But Iris came as a messenger to white-armed Helen, 
appearing like to her sister-in-law, the wife of Antenor's 
son, whom the son of Antenor, King Helicaon, possessed, 
Laodice, the fairest in appearance of the daughters of 
Priam. And she found her in her house : but she was 
weaving a great web, two-fold, purple, and interspersing 
the many struggles both of the horse-taming Trojans and 
the brazen-mailed Greeks, which they endured on her 
account under the hands of Mars. And swift-footed Iris, 
standing near, said unto her : " Come hither, dear nymph, 
that you may see the wondrous doings both of the horse- 
taming Trojans and the brazen-mailed Greeks, who before 
this carried on with one another lamentable war in the 



THE ILTAD OF HOMER. 



53 



plain, being eager for pernicious battle. They are just 
now sitting in silence — for the battle has ceased — 
leaning upon their shields; and their long spears are 
fixed beside them. But Alexander and Mars-loved 
Menelaus will fight with long spears concerning thee, 
and thou shalt be called the dear wife of him that con- 
quers." Having so said the goddess inspired in her soul 
a sweet desire, both of her former husband, and city, 
and parents. And having immediately veiled herself 
with white garments, she rushed from her bed-chamber, 
pouring down a tender tear ; not alone, two maid-servants 
accompanied her, Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, and ox- 
eyed Clymene. And thence they quickly came where the 
Scaean gates were. But the seniors of the people were 
sitting at the Scaean gates, Ucalegon and Antenor pru- 
dent both, beside Priam, and Panthous, and Thymaetes, 
and Lampus, and Clytius, and Hicetaon, branch of Mars, 
having now ceased from war by reason of old age : but 
they were good speakers, like unto grasshoppers, which 
sitting on a tree in the wood, send forth a sweet voice : 
such leaders of the Trojans were then sitting upon the 
tower. But as soon as they saw Helen coming to the 
tower, in an under tone they spoke winged words to one 
another. "It is no cause of indignation, that the 
Trojans and well-greaved Greeks should suffer hardships 
a long time for such a woman as this : she is exceedingly 
like the immortal goddesses in countenance. But even 
so, though she is such, let her return in the ships, and 
not leave a detriment to us and our children hereafter." 
They so said : but Priam called Helen with his voice : 
" Come hither, dear child, and sit before me, in order 
that you may see your former husband, and relations, 
and friends, — you are by no means to be blamed by me, 
the gods rather are to be blamed by me, who have excited 
against me the many tear-causing war of the Greeks, — 
that you may name to me that admirable man, whoever 
is that Achaean man both comely and great : others are 
indeed even higher in head : but I have never yet beheld 
with my eyes, so beautiful and so venerable an aspect : 



D 



54 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



truly he is like to a man that is a king." But Helen the 
noblest of women answered him with these words : 
" Beloved father-in-law, thou art both to be revered and 
feared by me, that fell death had befallen me at the 
time when I followed thy son hither, having forsaken my 
marriage bed and brothers, and my only born daughter, 
and the amiable society of co-evals. But these things, 
at least, were not to be ; and on that account I pine away 
with weeping : but I will tell to thee that which you ask 
and enquire of me : the same is the son of Atreus, 
far-ruling Agamemnon, both a good king and a brave 
warrior ; he was, forsooth, the brother-in-law of me 
shameless woman, if ever indeed he was." She so 
said : but the old man admired him, and cried out : " O 
happy son of Atreus, born under a lucky fate, fortunate, 
certainly many sons of the Greeks are under thy sway. 
Formerly I entered into viny Phrygia, where I saw very 
many Phrygians, men riding spotted horses, the forces of 
Otreus and godlike Mygdon, which were then encamped 
at the banks of Sangarium, and I too, being an auxiliary, 
was reckoned amongst them on that day, when the 
Amazons, women endued with the courage of men, came 
on : but not even were these so many, as the black-eyed 
Acha3ans." Secondly again, the old man seeing Ulysses, 
asked : " Come, tell me this one also, dear child, who he 
may be, less indeed in head than Agamemnon son of 
Atreus, but broader in shoulders and chest to look upon. 
His arms lie upon the many-feeding ground, but he him- 
self as a ram, ranges through the ranks of the men. 
Indeed I compare him to a densely fleeced ram, which 
goes through a great flock of white sheep." But then 
Helen, sprung from Jupiter, answered him : " That, like- 
wise, is the son of Laertes, the wily Ulysses, who was 
brought up in the state of Ithaca, though it is rough, 
being well skilled in all kinds of stratagems and prudent 
counsels." But prudent Antenor addressed her in turn : 
" woman, indeed you have spoken this word very truly, 
for already on a former occasion, noble Ulysses came here 
as an ambassador on account of thee, together with Mars- 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



55 



loved Menelaus, and I received them as guests, and 
entertained them in my house, and learned the genius, 
and prudent counsels of them both. But when now they 
were mixed with the assembled Trojans, while standing 
indeed, Menelaus was higher in the broad shoulders, but 
while both were sitting, Ulysses was the more venerable: 
but when now they weaved speeches and counsels amongst 
all, certainly Menelaus discoursed fluently, in few words 
indeed, but very clearly, since he was not a man of many 
words, nor erring in the delivery, though he was posterior 
in birth : but now when wily Ulysses would rise up, he 
stood, and looked down, fixing his eyes upon the ground, 
and he moved his sceptre neither backward nor forward, 
but held it unmoved, like to an unskilful man : and you 
would say that he was some one very angry, and without 
understanding too. But when now he sent forth a great 
voice from his breast, and words like the winter showers 
of snow, no longer then could any other mortal contend 
with Ulysses; nor then did we so much admire the 
appearance of Ulysses, when we looked on him." 
Thirdly again, the old man, seeing Ajax inquired : " And 
who, pray, is that other Achaean man, both comely and 
great overtopping the Argives, both with his head and broad 
shoulders V y But long-robed Helen, noblest of women, 
answered him : " That is gigantic Ajax, the bulwark of 
the Greeks : and Idomeneus on the other hand stands 
among the Cretians, as a god : and the Cretian leaders 
are gathered around him : oftentimes did Mars-loved 
Menelaus receive him as a guest in our house, whenever 
he would come from Crete. And now I see all the other 
black-eyed Achseans, whom I could well know, and men- 
tion their name : but I cannot see two leaders of forces, 
horse-taming Castor, and Pollux strenuous in boxing, 
my brothers-german, whom the one mother with me 
brought forth. Either they have not followed from the 
lovely Lacedsemon, or they have arrived here in sea-pass- 
ing ships, but now are not willing to enter into the battle 
of men, fearing the shame and many reproaches, which 
are attached to me." She so said : but already the life- 



56 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



supporting earth detained them there in Lacedeemon, in 
their own native land. 

But the heralds carried through the city the faithful 
leagues of the gods, two lambs, and heart cheering wine, 
the fruit of the ground, in a goat skin bottle : but the 
herald Idaeus carried a shining goblet, and golden cups, 
and standing near he excited the old man with these words: 
" Rise, descendant of Laomedon, the nobles both of the 
horse-taming Trojans and of the brazen-mailed Greeks 
call you to come down into the plain, that you may strike 
faithful leagues : for Alexander and Mars-loved Menelaus 
will fight with long spears concerning the woman : and 
the woman and her possessions shall follow him that 
conquers : but the others, striking friendship and faithful 
leagues, we shall inhabit very fertile Troy : but they shall 
return to horse-feeding Argos, and Achaia having beautiful 
women." He so spake : and the old man shuddered, and 
ordered his companions to yoke his horses : and they 
sedulously obeyed : then Priam ascended, and stretched 
back the reins, and Antenor mounted the very beautiful 
seat beside him, and they directed the swift-horses through 
the Scaean gates to the plain. But when at length they 
came to the Trojans and Achaeans, having dismounted 
from their horses to the many-feeding ground, they pro- 
ceeded into the middle of the Trojans and Achaeans. And 
then Agamemnon king of men at once rose up, and wily 
Ulysses rose up : but the illustrious heralds brought to- 
gether the faithful leagues of the gods, and mixed wine in 
a goblet, and poured water upon the hands of the kings. 
Then the son of Atreus, having drawn with his hands the 
knife which was always suspended along the large scab- 
bard of his sword, cut off hair from the heads of the lambs, 
and then the heralds distributed it among the chiefs of 
the Trojans and Achaeans : but the son of Atreus prayed 
among them with a loud voice, holding up his hands : 
"O father Jupiter, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most 
mighty, and sun, which seest all things, and hearest all 
things, and rivers, and earth, and ye who underneath 
punish defunct men, whosoever may have violated the 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



57 



sanctity of an oath. Be ye witnesses, and guard these 
faithful leagues. If indeed, Alexander shall kill Mene- 
laus, then let himself have Helen and all her possessions ; 
but we shall return in our sea-passing ships. But if 
yellow-haired Menelaus shall slay Alexander, then let the 
Trojans give up Helen and all her possessions, and pay a 
fine to the Argives, such as is just should be paid, and 
which may be recorded amongst posterity. But if Priam, 
and the sons of Priam, shall not be willing to pay the 
fine, after Alexander has fallen : in that case, I will forth- 
with fight on account of the penalty, remaining here until 
I shall find an end of the war." He said, and cut off the 
jaws of the lambs with the ruthless steel, and laid them 
upon the ground, panting in want of spirit ; for the steel 
had taken away their strength : and, having .drawn the 
wine from the goblet, they poured it out into the cups : 
and thus said each one of the Achaoans and Trojans : " 
Jupiter most glorious, most mighty, and ye other im- 
mortal gods, which ever of the two shall first offend 
against the leagues, let their brains so flow to the ground 
just as this wine, of themselves and of their children, and 
let their wives be mixed with others." They so said : 
nor yet indeed, did the son of Saturn accomplish it for 
them. But the Dardan Priam spoke these words among 
them : " Hear me, ye Trojans and well-greaved Acha3ans : 
I indeed go off to windy Ilium again : for in no wise shall 
I endure to see with mine eyes my dear son fighting with 
Mars-loved Menelaus. Jupiter, forsooth, knows this, and 
the other immortal gods, for which of the two an end of 
death has been destined by fate." He so said, and the 
god-like man put the lambs into his chariot, and then 
ascended himself, and stretched back the reins behind 
him; and Antenor mounted the very beautiful seat beside 
him. They, then going back, went off to Ilium. 

But Hector, son of Priam, and noble Ulysses measured 
out the place first, and then taking lots, they shook them 
in a brazen-fitted helmet, which of the two, forsooth, 
should first hurl a brazen spear. And the people prayed, 
and held up their hands to the gods, and thus said 



58 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. 



each one both, of the Achaeans and Trojans : " father 
Jupiter, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty, 
which ever of the two has caused these things to both 
parties, grant that he, being slain, may enter into 
the house of Hades, and that friendship and faithful 
leagues should again be made between us." So indeed 
they said : but great crest-waving Hector shook, looking 
back : and the lot of Paris swiftly leaped out. They 
then sat down according to the ranks, where the swift- 
footed horses of each were, and his various arms were 
lying. Meanwhile the noble Alexander, husband of 
beautiful-haired Helen, put on beautiful armour about 
his shoulders. In the first place indeed, he put around 
his legs beautiful greaves fitted with silver clasps : and 
secondly, he put on around his breast the breast-plate of 
his own brother Lycaon, for it fitted him : and next he 
suspended about his shoulders a silver-studded brazen 
sword : and afterwards a shield both large and solid, and 
upon his powerful head he placed a well-wrought helmet, 
bushy with horse hair ; and the crest nodded fearfully 
from above : and he grasped a sturdy spear, which was 
adapted to his hands. And so in the same manner did 
martial Menelaus put on his armour. 

But they, as soon as they were armed from the host 
on either side, proceeded into the midst of the Trojans 
and Achaeans, looking grimly : and amazement seized 
those looking on, both the horse-taming Trojans and the 
well-greaved Greeks. And they stood near in the 
measured place, shaking their spears, being in wrath 
with one another. But Alexander first sent forth a long 
shadow-casting spear, and struck the accurately-rounded 
shield of the son of Atreus : nor did the brass break 
through, for the point was bent in the strong shield. 
But Menelaus, son of Atreus, secondly made an attack 
with his spear, praying to father Jupiter : " King 
Jupiter, grant me to be avenged of noble Alexander, who 
first has done injury to me, and subdue him under my 
hands, in order that any one, even of the men that are 
to be born hereafter, may shudder to do an injury to his 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



59 



host, who may have shown him kindness." He said so, 
and brandishing, sent forth 5 long shadow-casting spear, 
and struck against the accurately-rounded shield 
of the son of Priam. The rapid spear passed, indeed, 
through the shining shield, and was forced through the 
breast-plate : and the spear cut its way quite through 
the coat along the bowels : but he was bent down, and 
shunned gloomy death. But the son of Atreus, drawing 
his silver-studded sword, uplifting himself, struck the 
cone of his helmet, and it fell from his hand, broken upon 
it in three or four pieces. And the son of Atreus 
lamented, looking to wide heaven : " father Jupiter, 
none other of the gods is more pernicious than you. I 
certainly thought that I should be avenged of Alexander 
for his villany. But now the sword has been broken in 
my hands, and the spear has been thrown from my hands 
in vain, neither did I strike him." He said, and rushing 
on, he caught him by the helmet densely set with horse 
hair, and turning him round he dragged him towards the 
well-greaved Achseans : but the well-stitched thong 
under his tender neck choaked him which had been 
stretched under the chin as a strap of the helmet. 
And indeed he would have dragged him and borne 
off immense glory, had not Venus, daughter of Jupiter 
quickly perceived, who broke for him the thong of 
the ox-forcibly slain; and the empty helmet at once 
followed the thick hand. Then the hero flung it 
with a whirl to the well-greaved Achaoans, and his 
amiable companions took it up. But he rushed on him 
again, eager to slay him with the brazen-spear : but 
Venus snatched him away very easily, as being a goddess, 
and covered him with much darkness, and placed him 
down in his sweet smelling marriage- chamber fragrant 
with incense. And she herself went back to call Helen ; 
and she found her on the lofty tower, and the Trojan 
women were around her in crowds : and catching her 
with her hand by the nectarine robe, she shook it. But 
she addressed her, being like to an old woman, very aged, 
a carder of wool, who used to card fine wool for her when 



60 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



dwelling in Lacedaemon, and she was very fond of her : 
Divine Venus, having likened herself to her, said unto 
her : " Come hither, Alexander calls you to return home : 
he is himself in the bridal-chamber, refulgent with beauty, 
and with garments : nor would you think that he had 
come from a battle with a hero, but that he is going to 
a dance, or is sitting down after just ceasing from a 
dance." She so spake : but she moved the spirit in her 
breast : and as soon as she perceived the very beautiful 
neck of the goddess, and her desirable breast, and shining 
eyes, she was then indeed amazed, and spoke these 
words and said. " Unkind ! why dost thou desire to 
practice upon me such arts of deception ? Wilt thou lead 
me further to any other of the well-inhabited towns, either 
of Phrygia or lovely Maoonia, if there also you have some 
favourite amongst articulating men ? Because, forsooth, 
Menelaus, having now conquered noble Alexander, wishes 
to bring home me odious, is it for this reason, pray, that 
you now stand near me here with artful intent ? Go, sit 
with him, and renounce the ways of the gods : no more 
return on thy feet to Olympus, but always whine around 
him, and watch him until he shall make you either his 
wife, or his handmaid. But I go not thither to adorn 
his bed, for it would be reprehensible indeed • for the 
Trojan women will all mock me afterwards, and I should 
have unutterable woes in my soul." But Divine Yenus, 
being angry, said unto her : " Wretch, provoke me not, 
lest in wrath I shall forsake you, and hate you in pro- 
portion as I now wonderfully have loved you, and shall 
devise bitter enmity in the midst of both the Trojans and 
Danai : you then shall perish by an evil fate." She so 
spake : but Helen, sprung from Jupiter, feared, and went 
in silence, covered with a white shining robe • and she 
escaped the notice of all the Trojan women, for the god- 
dess led the way. And when they came to the very 
beautiful house of Alexander, the maidservants then 
quickly turned to their employments, and the noblest of 
women went up into the high-roofed marriage-chamber. 
But the laughter-loving goddess Venus, taking a seat, 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



61 



carried and placed it down for her opposite Alexander : 
there Helen sat down, daughter of .^Egis -bearing Jupiter, 
turning back her eyes, and she rebuked her husband with 
these words : " You have come from the war .: that you 
had perished there, having been slain by the brave hero 
who was my former husband : surely indeed you boasted 
before this, that you were superior to Mars-loved Menelaus, 
in your strength, and hands, and spear : but go, now, 
challenge Mars-loved Menelaus again to fight against you: 
but I, at least, advise you to cease, and not to engage in 
battle and conflict against yellow Menelaus, inconsider- 
ately, lest perchance you may quickly be slain by him 
with the spear. " But Paris replying with words said unto 
her ; " Woman, do not touch my soul with bitter taunts : 
for now indeed Menelaus has overcome me with the assis- 
tance of Minerva, but I will conquer him at another time ; 
for gods are present with us also. But come now, let us, 
lying down, delight ourselves with love : for never at any 
time hath desire to such a degree enveloped my mind, 
not even when first having snatched thee away from, lovely 
Lacedsemon, I sailed off in sea-passing ships, and was 
mixed with you in the pleasures of the bed in the island 
Cranae, as now I love you, and sweet desire seizes me." 
He so said : and commenced going to bed, and at the same 
time his wifefollowed. They then lay down onabored couch. 

But the son of Atreus traversed through the crowd like 
a wild beast, if anywhere he could spy out godlike Alex- 
ander. But no one of the Trojans and renowned auxili- 
aries was then able to point out Alexander to Mars-loved 
Menelaus, for they would not indeed have concealed him, 
if any one had seen him : for he was hateful to them all, 
equally with gloomy death. But Agamemnon king of men 
said amongst them : " Hear me, Trojans, Dardans, and 
auxiliaries. The victory indeed appears to be that of 
Mars-loved Menelaus : do you, then, give up Argive Helen 
and the possessions along with her, and pay a fine, such 
as is just should be paid, and which may be recorded even 
amongst men of futurity." So spake the son of Atreus, 
and the other Achaeans assented. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



FOURTH BOOK. 



Now the gods sitting in the presence of Jupiter were 
consulting on a golden pavement, and venerable Hebe 
poured out nectar among them : but they pledged one 
another with golden cups, as they looked upon the city 
of the Trojans. Immediately the son of Saturn tried to 
irritate Juno, speaking with sarcastic words by way of 
comparison : " Two of the goddesses indeed are the 
especial assistants of Menelaus, both Argive Juno and 
Minerva of Alalcomenas, but nevertheless they, sitting 
apart, content themselves with merely looking on : 
whereas laughter-loving Venus, on the contrary, is ever 
in attendance on him, and wards off the fates from him ; 
and now she has preserved him thinking that he was 
about to die. However, the victory, indeed, is that of 
Mars-loved Menelaus : but we must consider how ihese 
things shall end : whether we shall again excite per- 
nicious war and gloomy battle, or strike friendship 
between both parties. And if this should so be pleasing 
and agreeable to all, by all means let the city of King 
Priam be inhabited, and let Menelaus carry back again 
Argive Helen." He so said : but Minerva and Juno 
muttered ; they were sitting near one another, and were 
planning evils for the Trojans. Minerva indeed was 
silent, nor did she say anything, being offended with her 
father Jupiter, and wild resentment took possession of 
her, but Juno did not contain her anger in her breast, 
but addressed him : " Most gloomy son of Saturn, what 
sort of language have you uttered ? In what manner do 
you wish to render our labour vain and of no effect, and 



€4 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the sweat which I have lost through toil ? Even my 
horses have been wearied under me collecting forces, the 
destruction of Priam and his children. Do so : but by 
no means do all the rest of us gods give our assent." 
But cloud-collecting Jupiter, being highly indignant, 
said unto her : " Madam, in what respect now, do Priam 
and the children of Priam do thee so much harm, that 
you urgently desire to destroy the well-built town of 
Ilium ? But if you, entering within its gates and lofty 
walls, could devour Priam raw, and the children of 
Priam and the other Trojans, then perhaps you might 
heal your anger. Do as you please, lest this dispute 
may be hereafter a source of great contention between 
both you and me. But I tell you another thing, and do you 
lay it up in your mind : whenever I may eagerly desire 
to destroy any town, wherein men dear to you are born, 
do not in the least obstruct my wrath, but suffer me : 
seeing that I voluntarily, though with unwilling mind, 
have given to you this one. For of those cities of 
earthly men, which are situated under both the sun 
and starry heaven, sacred Ilium is regarded the highest 
in my esteem, and Priam, and the people of Priam skilled 
in the ashen spear. For never did my altar lack an 
adequate feast, and libation, and incense : for we are 
allotted to this honour." But then ox-eyed venerable 
Juno answered him : " Certainly there are three cities 
by far the most dear to me, Argos, and Sparta, and wide- 
streeted Mycense : destroy these, when they are hated in 
thy heart : in defence of these I oppose you not, nor do 
I grudge them to you. For even if I should envy you, 
and not suffer you to destroy them, I should effect 
nothing by doing so, since you are much more powerful. 
Yet it is not becoming to render my labour ineffectual : 
for I too am a deity, and my race is from the same source 
as thine own : and wily Saturn begat me destined to the 
highest honour in a double respect, both in race, and 
because I am called thy wife, but thou art king amongst 
all the immortals. Nevertheless we shall concede these 
things to one another, I to thee, and thou to me, and 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



65 



the other immortal gods will follow. But do you quickly 
command Minerva to go to the gloomy conflict of the 
Trojans and Achaeans, and try that the Trojans may 
begin first, in violation of the treaty, to injure the 
Achaeans elated with glory." She so spake : nor did 
the father both of men and gods disobey : forthwith he 
addressed Minerva with winged words : " Go very quickly 
to the army, to the Trojans and the Achaeans, and try 
that the Trojans may begin first, in violation of the 
treaty, to injure the Achaeans elated with glory." So 
saying, he hastened on Minerva previously eager : and 
she went down flying from the summits of Olympus. 
And resembling a star, which the son of wily Saturn 
sends as a sign either to sailors, or to a wide army of 
people, splendid, and many sparks fly from it : like to 
this, Pallas Minerva rushed to the ground, and leaped 
down into the midst : and amazement seized those be- 
holding it, both the horse-taming Trojans, and well- 
greaved Greeks. And thus did each one say, as he 
looked upon another next him : u Assuredly there will 
either again be destructive war and gloomy conflict, or 
Jupiter, who is the appointed arbiter of the war of men, 
is establishing friendship between both parties." So 
indeed said each one both of the Greeks and Trojans. 
But she entered into the crowd of the Trojans, similar 
to a man, Laodocus, son of Antenor, a brave spearsman, 
searching for the godlike Pandarus, if she could find him 
anywhere. She found the son of Lycaon, both blame- 
less and brave, standing : and around him were strong 
ranks of shielded forces, which followed him from the 
streams of .ZEsepus : and standing near, she addressed 
him with winged words : " Warlike son of Lycaon, would 
you now obey me in a certain thing ? Could you but 
venture to despatch a swift arrow at Menelaus, you would 
indeed bear off grace and glory from all the Trojans ; 
but of all most especially from King Alexander, from 
whom first of all you would certainly obtain splendid 
gifts, if he should see the martial Menelaus, son of 
Atreus, subdued by thy dart, ascending the mournful 



66 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



funeral pile. Yea, come, cast an arrow at glorious 
Menelaus, and vow to the light-producing Apollo, re- 
nowned for the bow, that you will sacrifice an illustrious 
hecatomb of first-born lambs, when you have returned 
home to the city of sacred Zelia." So spake Minerva : 
and she persuaded the mind of the foolish man. Im- 
mediately he uncased his well polished bow, from a frisking 
wild goat, which forsooth he himself formerly, hitting it 
under the breast bone, having awaited it in ambush 
coming forth from a rock, had struck in the breast, and 
it fell prostrate on the rock. The horns from its head 
had grown sixteen fingers in length : and these the horn 
polisher prepared and fitted with skill, and when he had 
smoothed it all well, he put on a golden apex. And when 
he had stretched it, he placed it down skilfully, inclining 
it to the ground, whilst his distinguished companions held 
their shields before him, lest the martial sons of the Greeks 
might rush on him before that warlike Menelaus, prince 
of the Greeks, had been struck. Moreover, he took off 
the quiver-top, and took out an arrow, never yet cast, 
winged, the powerful cause of gloomy pains : and he 
quickly applied the bitter arrow to the bow string, and 
vowed to the light-producing, bow-renowned Apollo, that 
he would sacrifice an illustrious hecatomb of first-born 
lambs, after he had returned home to the city of sacred 
Zelia. And grasping firmly, he drew both the notches 
and the ox-hide strings at the same time : the bow string 
he brought close to his breast, and the steel to the bow. 
Moreover, when he had stretched the great bow in the 
form of a circle, the bow twanged, the bow string deeply 
resounded, and the sharp-pointed arrow bounded forth, 
eager to wing its flight through the host. 

Nor were the happy immortal gods forgetful of you,, 
Menelaus, but first the plundering daughter of Jupiter, 
who, standing before you, warded off the deadly dart. 
She kept it indeed, so far from his body, as when a 
mother keeps away a fly from her child, when it is lying 
in sweet repose : but she directed it there where the 
golden rings of the outer belt held it together, and the 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



67 



two-fold corslet met. And the bitter arrow fell into the 
well-fitted belt, and was driven through the well-wrought 
belt, and was forced through the much wrought corslet, 
and the plate which he wore as a protection of his body, 
a defence from javelins, which protected him most, yet 
it passed onwards even through this : and the arrow, 
forsooth, grazed the outermost cuticle of the man. And 
forthwith purple blood flowed from the wound. And as 
when any woman, Mseonian, or Carian, has tinged ivory 
with purple, to be a cheekpiece of horses, and it lies in 
her bed-chamber, and many horsemen desired to obtain 
it ; but it lies as an ornament for a king, in a double 
respect, both a decoration to the horse, and a glory to 
the rider : such a manner were thy well grown thighs, 
Menelaus, stained with blood, and thy legs and beautiful 
ankles underneath. But then, forsooth, Agamemnon, 
king of men, shuddered when he saw the black blood 
flowing down from the wound. And Mars-loved Mene- 
laus himself also shuddered. But when he saw both the 
string and the arrow's barbs being without, his spirit 
was collected back again in his breast. But King Aga- 
memnon, deeply sighing, spoke among them, holding 
Menelaus with his hand : and his companions lamented : 
" Dear brother, I have struck a treaty which will prove 
your death, having put forward you alone to fight with 
the Trojans in behalf of the Greeks : since the Trojans 
have wounded you, and trampled on the treaty they had 
ratified. Yet by no means shall the treaty be in vain, 
and the blood of the lambs, and the pure libations, and 
the right hands, on which we have relied. For even 
though the Olympian has not accomplished it at once, 
yet he will accomplish it even at last : and they shall pay 
the penalty dearly, together with their own heads, and 
their wives and children. For I well know this in my 
mind and soul, the day shall at length come, when sacred 
Ilium shall perish, and Priam, and the people of Priam 
skilled in the ashen spear : and Jupiter, son of Saturn, 
high-throned, dwelling in the sky, will himself shake his 
obscure -ZEgis over them all, burning with wrath on 



68 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



account of this deception. These things indeed shall 
not be unaccomplished. But to me there will be sad 
grief on account of you, Menelaus, if you die, and fill 
up your term of life : and then I should return to much 
desired Argos, covered with the greatest dishonour. 
For the Greeks will immediately remember their native 
land, and we shall leave behind us Argive Helen, a glory 
to Priam and the Trojans : but the earth shall rot the 
bones of you lying in Troy, over an unfinished work. 
And some one of the haughty Trojans leaping upon 
the tomb of glorious Menelaus, will say in this wise ; 
' Would that Agamemnon had accomplished his wrath 
upon all in the same manner as he has now done upon 
us : he has conducted hither an army of the Greeks in 
vain, and now he is gone home to his dear native 
country, with empty ships, having left brave Menelaus 
behind thus will some one at some time say : then may 
the wide earth open for me." 

But yellow Menelaus, assuring him, said ; " Be of good 
cheer, nor in any wise frighten the people of the Greeks. 
The sharp dart is not fixed in a deadly place, but ere it 
did so, the pliant belt protected me, and the girdle under- 
neath, and the plate, which the men who worked the 
brass, elaborately made." And king Agamemnon said 
unto him in reply : ''Would it were so, my dear Menelaus! 
But the physician shall wipe the wound, and apply reme- 
dies, which may ease thee of the gloomy pains." He said: 
and addressed Talthybius, the divine herald : " Talthybius, 
call hither as soon as possible, the man Machaon, son of 
the blameless physician .ZEsculapius, that he may see 
martial Menelaus, prince of the Greeks, whom some one 
of the Trojans or Lycians, well-skilled in the bow, has 
wounded with an arrow he cast : to him, indeed, it is a 
glory, but to us a grief." So he spake : nor did the 
herald disobey him, when he had heard, but proceeded to 
go through the forces of the brazen-mailed Greeks, look- 
ing on all sides for the hero Machaon, and he perceived 
him standing : and around him were strong ranks of 
shielded troops, which had followed him from horse-feed- 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



69' 



ing Tricca. And standing near he addressed him with 
winged words, Make haste, son of iEsculapius, king 
Agamemnon calls you, that you may see martial Menelaus, 
son of Atreus, whom some one of the Trojans or Lycians, 
well skilled in the bow, has wounded with an arrow he 
cast : to him indeed, it is a glory, but to us a grief." So 
he spake : and at once he moved the spirit in the breast 
of him : and they proceeded to go through the crowd, 
through the wide army of the Greeks. But when they 
had now come where yellow Menelaus had been wounded, 
and around him had been gathered as many as were the 
most distinguished, in a circle ; the god-like man stood 
in the midst, and immediately drew the arrow from the 
well-fitted belt, and while it was extracted, the sharp 
barbs were bent back. And he loosed the flexible belt, and 
likewise the girdle underneath, and the plate, which the 
brazen workmen elaborately made. But when he saw the 
wound, where the bitter arrow had fallen, having pressed 
out the blood, he skilfully sprinkled upon it the soothing 
medicine, which the benevolent Chiron formerly gave to 
his father. Whilst they were busily engaged about the 
brave Menelaus, meanwhile the ranks of the shielded 
Trojans were coming on, and they again put on their arms, 
and were mindful of battle. Then you would not see the 
noble Agamemnon slumbering, or fluttering with fear, or 
unwilling to fight, but actively hastening to the glorious 
battle : for indeed, he left his horses and chariot figured 
with brass, and his servant Eurymedon, son of Ptolemaeus 
of Pirais, held them breathing apart : to him he gave 
strict charge to keep them near at hand, against the time 
when weariness should seize his limbs, while he was 
governing among many. But he, being on foot, went 
here and there through the lines of the men, and whomso- 
ever of the swift-horsed Greeks he would see making speed, 
these he greatly strengthened with words, standing near 
them : " Argives ! do not in the least relax from vigorous 
power : for father Jupiter will not be the abettor of lies : 
but whoever first committed the injury, in violation of 
the treaty, the vultures shall devour the tender bodies of 



B 



70 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE*. 



these themselves, assuredly : but we will carry away in 
our vessels both their dear wives and infant children, 
after we have taken the town." Whomsoever on the 
contrary, he would see relaxing from the stern battle, 
these he sharply chid with angry words : " Argives ! 
destined to the bow, objects of disgrace, are you not now 
touched with a sense of shame ? Why, pray, do you 
stand in this manner amazed, like fawns ? which, when- 
ever they become tired, running over a great plain, stand 
still, nor does any vigour spring up in their hearts ; so 
you stand amazed, neither do you fight. Are you await- 
ing the Trojans to come near where the well-prowed 
ships are hauled up upon the shore of the hoary sea, in 
order that you may see whether Jupiter would hold his 
hand over you?" Thus did he, commanding, traverse 
through the ranks of men, and, as he went through the 
troops, he came upon the Cretians, who were armed 
about the warlike Idomeneus. Idomeneus indeed was 
in the front line, like unto a boar in strength, and 
Meriones pushed on for him the troops in the rear. But 
Agamemnon, king of men, seeing them, rejoiced, and 
immediately accosted Idomeneus in pleasing accents : 
" Idomeneus, indeed I honour you before the swift- 
horsed Danai, whether in war, or at any other office, or 
even at a banquet, whenever the nobles of the Argives 
mix in the goblet the old sparkling wine : for although 
the other hair-crested Achseans drink by measure, yet 
your cup stands always full, just as mine own, to drink 
when the mind prompted. But rush on to battle with 
that vigour for which you have been hitherto so dis- 
tinguished." But Idomeneus, leader of the Cretians, on 
the other hand, addressed him in reply : Son of Atreus, 
I shall indeed be a very cordial companion to you, as at 
the first I promised and agreed : but urge on the other 
hair-crested Greeks, that we may fight as soon as 
possible : since the Trojans have confounded the treaty, 
death and woes shall certainly come upon them here- 
after, seeing they have first committed injury in violation 
of the treaty." So he spake : but the son of Atreus 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



71 



passed by, joyous in heart, and going through the crowd 
of men, he came to the Ajaxs' : but they were armed, 
and a cloud of infantry followed along. And as when 
from a watch-tower the goat-herd perceives a cloud 
coming over the main, impelled by the blast of Zephy- 
rus : and to him, being at a distance, it appears darker 
than pitch, as it advances over the sea, and it leads in its 
train a mighty whirlwind, and he shudders at the sight, 
and drives his flock under a cave : such like were the 
dense troops of high-spirited youths moving with the 
Ajaxs' to the burning battle, dusky, and bristling with 
shields and spears. And king Agamemnon, seeing them, 
rejoiced, and raising his voice, addressed them with winged 
words : " Ajaxs' ! Generals of the brazen-mailed Argives, 
you indeed, — for it becomes me not, — I by no means 
wish to excite, for you yourselves diligently urge on the 
people powerfully to fight. For, would to father Jupiter, 
and Minerva and Apollo, that such a spirit were in the 
breasts of all. In that case the city of king Priam would 
soon fall, being both taken and demolished under our 
hands."" So saying, he left them there, and went to others, 
where he found Nestor, the shrill haranguer of the Pylians, 
marshalling his companions and inciting them to fight, 
around the mighty Pelagon, and Alastor, and Chromius, 
and king Haemon, and Bias, rulers of the forces. The 
horsemen, indeed, he placed foremost, together with the 
horses and chariots, and the infantry behind, both numer- 
ous and strenuous, to be the stay of the battle : and the 
cowardly he drove into the middle, in order that any one„ 
even not willing, might fight through necessity. He gave 
charge to the horsemen in the first place : for he ordered 
them to hold in their own horses, and not to be thrown 
into confusion in the crowd. " Neither let any one, rely- 
ing on his skill in horsemanship and his own fortitude, be 
eager to fight with the Trojans, alone before others, nor 
yet let him recede : for ye shall be weaker. But what- 
ever man may come from his own vehicle to the chariot 
of another, let the latter repel him with extended spear ; 
for as much as it will be much better thus. Thus also 



72 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the ancients used to overthrow cities and walls, having 
this mind and spirit in their breasts. " So the old man 
encouraged them, having been long since well practised 
in wars : and indeed, king Agamemnon, seeing him, re- 
joiced, and, raising his voice, he accosted him with winged 
words : " old man, I would that your knees followed 
you, and firm strength were in you, in proportion to the 
spirit which is in your dear breast : but old age, attacking 
all alike, afflicts you : that some other of the men 
possessed it, and you were in the number of the younger 
inen." But the Gerenian horseman Nestor then answered 
him : " Son of Atreus, indeed I could very much wish 
myself also that I were so, as when I slew noble 
Breuthalion. But the gods have never yet given to men 
all things at the same time : if I was then a youth, now 
in turn old age comes upon me. But even so I shall be 
present with the horsemen, and shall encourage them by 
counsel and by words : for this is the office of old men : 
and the younger men, who have been born later than me, 
and rely upon their strength, shall brandish the spears." 

He so spake : but the son of Atreus passed by, rejoic- 
ing in his heart. He found the son of Peteus, the horse- 
spurring Menestheus, standing : and around him were 
the Athenians, eminently skilful in the din of battle. 
But wily Ulysses was standing close by, and beside him 
no weak ranks of the Cephallenians were standing 
around : for the forces of these did not yet hear the 
shout of battle, but the troops, both of the horse-taming 
» Trojans and Achgeans, being newly excited, were moving; 
but they stood awaiting the time when another division 
of the Achseans, coming on, would make an attack 
upon the Trojans, and begin the battle. Now when 
Agamemnon, king of men, saw these, he chid them, and, 
calling aloud, he addressed them with winged words : 
" son of Peteus, the noble-born king, and thou, 
accomplished in evil wiles, crafty-minded, why, pray, do 
you stand aloof fluttering with fear, and await others ? 
It became you two indeed, being amongst the foremost, 
to stand and meet the hot battle ; for ye are the first to 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



73 



hear of my feast, whenever we Greeks prepare a banquet 
for the seniors : there ye are delighted to eat roast flesh, 
and to drink caps of pleasant wine, as long as you wish; 
but now you would look on contentedly, even if ten 
divisions of the Achseans were to fight with the ruthless 
sword in your presence." But the wily Ulysses, sternly 
looking, said unto him : " Son of Atreus, what kind of 
language has escaped the enclosure of your teeth ? How 
now do you say that we are remiss in war ? Whenever 
we Achaeans stir up keen Mars against the horse-taming 
Trojans, you shall see, if you wish, and if indeed these 
things are a concern to you, the dear father of Tele- 
machus mixed with the foremost fighters of the horse- 
taming Trojans : but you speak these things without 
grounds." But king Agamemnon said to him, smiling, 
as he perceived him angry ; and he resumed his speech : 
" Noble-born son of Laertes, very prudent Ulysses, I do 
not chide you excessively, nor order you. For I know 
that the soul within your own breast is acquainted with 
kind counsels : for you are of the same sentiments as I 
am, fully. But go on, and we shall settle these things 
hereafter, if anything evil has now been uttered : but 
may the gods render them all of no consequence." 

So saying, he left them there and went to others : and 
he found the son of Tydeus, high-minded Diomedes, 
standing by his horses and glued chariot, and Sthenelus, 
son of Capaneus, was standing near him. And King 
Agamemnon, when he saw him, reproved him also, and, 
raising his voice, he addressed him with winged words : 
" Alas ! son of the warlike, horse- taming Tydeus, why do 
you tremble, and why do you view the intervals of the 
battle ? It was not, indeed, thus pleasing to Tydeus at 
least, to quake with fear, but to fight with the enemy 
far before his own dear companions. So said they who 
saw him engaging : for I indeed have not met, nor seen 
him : but they say that he excelled others. For formerly 
he entered Mycenae, but not with war, a stranger, in com- 
pany with the godlike Polynices, collecting forces, who 
forsooth were then preparing for an expedition against 



74 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the sacred walls of Thebes, and they entreated them very 
earnestly to give famous auxiliaries. And they were 
willing to give them, and assented to their wishes : but 
Jupiter hindered, showing inauspicious signs. And they, 
after they departed, and were forward on the way, came 
to Asopus, growing long bulrushes, grassy. Thence 
again the Achaeans sent Tydeus upon an embassy : but 
he went off, and found many Cadmeans feasting in the 
house of the powerful Eteocles. Not even there, although 
he was a stranger, was the horseman Tydeus afraid, being 
alone amongst many Cadmeans : but he challenged them 
to vie with him in contests, and he overcame them in all 
things easily;' such an assistant was Minerva to him. 
But the Cadmeans, spurrers of horses, being angry, laid 
a close ambuscade, which they conducted, for him return- 
ing back, fifty youths : and there were two leaders, Maeon, 
the son of Haemon, very like to the immortals, and war- 
enduring Lycophontes, the son of Autophonus. Tydeus, 
however, brought a hard fate even upon these : he slew 
them all, and sent one only to return home : he dismissed 
Maeon, forsooth, in obedience to the signs of the gods. 
Such was the iEtolian Tydeus : but he has begot a son 
inferior to himself in battle, but superior in declamation." 
He so spake : but the brave 13 io modes made him no reply, 
revering the rebuke of the venerable king. But the son 
of renowned Capaneus answered him : " Son of Atreus, 
do not utter lies, as you well know the truth to speak : 
we indeed, boast to be better than our fathers by far : we 
too, have taken the seat of the seven-gated Thebes, having 
led fewer forces under its martial wall, relying on the 
omens of the gods, and the assistance of Jupiter : but 
they perished by their own infatuation. Wherefore, 
never place my forefathers in the same rank with me." 
But at once the brave Diomedes, addressed him with a 
stern look : "My friend, sit in silence, and obey my words. 
For I do not blame Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, 
for urging on the well-greaved Achaeans to fight, seeing 
that glory shall attend him indeed, if the Achaeans shall 
vanquish the Trojans, and take sacred Ilium ; but on the 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



75 



other hand great mourning shall be his companion if the 
Achseans are slain. But come now, and let us prepare 
for impetuous fortitude." He so said, and leaped from 
his chariot, with his armour, to the ground : and the brass 
rung terribly upon the breast of the king rushing along : 
indeed fear would have seized even the bravest spirit. 

And as when on the loud sounding sea shore a wave of 
the sea is continuously excited, when Zephyrus moves it 
underneath ; at the first indeed, it raises itself aloft upon 
the deep, but afterwards, being dashed against the beach, 
it roars loudly, and, with swollen surge, is carried on 
high around the promontory, and spits forth the briny 
spray : so then the continuous troops of the Danai were 
moved without intermission to battle, and each one of 
the leaders commanded his own : but the others went 
silently : (nor would you think that so many people 
followed having a voice in their breasts ;) in silence 
revering their commanders : and around them all, armour 
of various workmanship glittered, clothed with which 
they marched in order. But the Trojans, just as count- 
less sheep stand in the fold of a very wealthy man, 
whilst they are milked of their white milk, inces- 
santly bleating, when they hear the voice of the lambs : 
so a tumultuous sound of the Trojans was excited 
throughout the wide army. For neither was the vocifer- 
ation of all one, nor the voice one, but their tongue was 
mixed ; for they were men called from many places. And 
these, indeed, Mars excited, but azure-eyed Minerva those, 
also Terror, and Flight, and contention insatiably raging, 
the sister and companion of manslaying Mars, and who, 
though little at first, raises herself aloft, but afterwards 
she fixes her head in heaven and walks upon the ground : 
who then also cast into the midst of them strife destruct- 
ive to both alike, going through the crowd, increasing 
the groaning of men. But they, when they had now come 
together into one place, dashed their shields together, and 
their spears together, and the force of men clothed with 
brazen corslets : and whilst the bossy shields approached 
close to one another, much crashing noise sprung up. 



76 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



Then there were at the same time both the groaning and 
boasting of men, of those destroying, and those perishing; 
and the earth flowed with blood. And as when two rivers 
in winter, flowing down from mountains into a valley 
where they are mixed, dash together their impetuous 
waters from great fountains, within their hollow channel, 
and the shepherd in the mountains hears their distant 
roar : so was the shouting and fear which arose from them 
mixing together. 

But Antilochus first slew a warrior of the Trojans, 
distinguished amongst those in the front line, Echepolus, 
son of Thalysias, whom he first struck in the cone of the 
helmit set thick with horse hair ; and the brazen point 
fastened in his forehead, and perforated the bone within : 
and darkness covered his eyes, and he fell down, like 
some tower in a hard conflict. But when he had fallen, 
king Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, commander of the 
magnanimous Abantes, caught him by the feet, and was 
dragging him out of the reach of darts with intense 
eagerness, in order that he might most speedily rob him 
of his armour : but the attempt was to him of short 
continuance : for the magnanimous Agenor, when he 
saw him trailing the dead body, wounded, with his 
brazen-pointed dagger, his flank, which, as he stooped, 
appeared out from his shield, and he dissolved his mem- 
bers. So the soul left him indeed : but a hard encounter 
of the Trojans and Greeks took place over him, and they 
rushed upon each other, as wolves, and man prostrated 
man. Then Telamonian Ajax struck the son of Anthe- 
niion, a blooming youth Simoisius : whom formerly his 
mother, coming down from Ida, brought forth at the 
banks of Simois, when she went along with her parents 
to see the sheep : for this reason they called him Simoi- 
sius : nor did he repay his dear parents for their tender 
care of his infancy, as the time was of brief duration to 
him, being laid low by the spear of magnanimous Ajax. 
For he struck him first, as he advanced, in the breast at 
the right pap, and the brazen lance went quite through 
the shoulder, and he fell on the ground in the dust, as a 



THE ILTAD OF HOMER. 



77 



poplar, which has grown in a moist part of an extensive 
marsh, smooth, but branches have grown upon the 
highest summit of it : which indeed a man who is a 
joiner of chariots has lopped with the shining steel, in 
order that he might bend a felloe for a very beautiful 
chariot, and which also lies withering upon the banks of 
a river : such like, forsooth, did the noble-born Ajax 
strip when he slew Simoisius the son of Anthemion : but 
Antiphus, the son of Priam, clothed with a manifold 
corslet, hurled at him through the crowd, with a sharp 
spear. Him, however, he missed : but he struck in the 
groin Leucus, the valiant companion of Ulysses, trailing 
the dead body to another place ; and he fell down beside 
him, and the dead body fell from his hand. But Ulysses 
was vehemently enraged on account of him being slain, 
and went through the foremost fighters, armed with 
flashing steel, and, going very near, he stood, and hurled 
with a shining lance, looking around himself on all sides : 
but the Trojans receded in confusion, as the man was 
hurling : and he cast no vain weapon, but he struck the 
spurious son of Priam, Democoon, who had come to him 
from Abydos, from swift steeds. Him forsooth, Ulysses, 
being enraged on account of his companion, struck with 
the lance in his temple ; and the brazen-point penetrated 
through the other temple, and darkness covered his eyes, 
and as he fell he made a loud sound, and his arms rung 
over him. And both the foremost fighters and illustrious 
Hector retreated back. But the Argives loudly shouted, 
and trailed away the dead bodies, and rushed directly 
forward much farther : but Apollo was indignant, looking 
down from Pergamus, and he encouraged the Trojans, 
shouting : " Rush on, ye horse-taming Trojans, and 
do not give up the battle to the Argives, since their 
body is not stone, nor iron, that it should sustain the 
skin-cntting steel when they are stricken. Neither yet 
does Achilles, son of beautiful-haired Thetis, fight, but 
he cherishes tormenting resentment at the ships. 39 So 
spake the terrible god from the city : but the most 
glorious Tritogenia, daughter of Jupiter, excited the 



78 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



Greeks, going through the crowd, wherever she would see 
them relaxing. Then fate ensnared Dioreus, son of 
Amarynces ; for he had been struck with a rough hand- 
stone, in the right leg, near the ankle : forsooth, the leader 
of the men of Thrace, Pirus son of Imbrasis, who had 
come from Aenos, had cast it : and the merciless stone 
thoroughly smashed both the tendons and the bones : but 
he fell down, supine in the dust, expanding both hands to 
his dear companions, breathing forth his soul : and Pirus, 
who had struck him, ran up to him, and wounded him with 
his spear at the navel, and all his bowels gushed out upon 
the ground, and darkness covered his eyes. But Thoas the 
^Etolian, rushing on, struck him with a spear in the chest 
over the pap, and the brass was fixed in the lung, and Thoas 
went close to him, and extracted the strong lance from 
his chest, and drew a sharp cutlass, and with it he struck 
the middle of his belly and took away his life. But he did 
not strip off the armour, for his companions, the hair-tufted 
Thracians, stood around him, holding long lances in their 
hands who repulsed him from them, mighty though he was 
and powerful and illustrious : but he receding was roughly 
handled. So these two leaders, the one forsooth, of the 
Thracians and the other of the brazen-mailed Bpeans, 
were stretched in the dust beside each other : and many 
others also were slain around. At this time indeed, no 
man, coming amongst them, would yet have found fault 
with the action, whosoever still unhurt and unwounded 
with the sharp steel could move about through the midst, 
and Pallas Minerva, taking him by the hand, should lead 
him, and also keep off the flight of darts. For many of 
the Trojans and Achseans on that day were laid prostrate 
in the dust beside one another. 



THE 



ILIAD OF HOMER. 
FIFTH BOOK. 



Then indeed Pallas Minerva gave strength and courage 
to Diornedes, the son of Tydeus, that he might become 
conspicuous among all the Greeks, and bear off dis- 
tinguished renown. And from his helmet and shield she 
kindled unceasing fire, like unto the autumnal star which 
shines most brightly being bathed of the ocean : such a 
fire did she kindle both from his head and shoulders : and 
she impelled him into the midst, where most were thrown 
into disorder. But there was one Dares among the 
Trojans, rich, blameless, priest of Vulcan ; and he had 
two sons, Phegeus and Idasus, well skilled in every mode 
of battle. These, being separated from their own party, 
rushed on to meet him, they indeed from their horses, 
but he from the ground moved battle on foot. And when 
they were now near, coming against one another, Phegeus 
indeed first hurled a long shadow-casting spear, but the 
point of the spear went over the left shoulder of the son 
of Tydeus, nor did he strike him : but the son of Tydeus 
next rushed on with his spear : and no vain dart flew 
from his hand ; but he struck his breast between the paps 
and tumbled him from his horses. But Idaaus leaped 
down, leaving behind the very beautiful chariot, nor did 
he venture to protect his slain brother, for neither — not 
even he — would he have escaped gloomy death, but 
Vulcan delivered him, and saved him covered in darkness, 
that forsooth, the old man might not be altogether over- 
come with grief. But the son of magnanimous Tydeus, 
driving off the horses, gave them to his companions to 
lead down to the hollow ships. But when the magnani- 



80 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



mous Trojans saw the sons of Dares, the one flying, and 
the other slain beside his chariot, the hearts of all were 
panic struck : but the azure-eyed Minerva, taking 
impetuous Mars by the hand, addressed him in these 
words : " Mars, Mars, destroyer of mortals, slaughter- 
tainted, overturner of walls ! should we not now leave 
the Trojans and Achaaans to fight by themselves, to 
whichever side father Jupiter may extend the victory ; 
but let us retire, and avoid the anger of Jupiter." So 
saying, she conducted impetuous Mars out of the battle, 
and then made him sit down on the banky Scamander. 
But the Greeks turned the Trojans to flight, and each of 
the leaders slew a man : and first, Agamemnon, king of 
men, tumbled from his chariot the great Hodius, leader 
of the Halizonians : for he fixed his spear in the back of 
him turning first, between the shoulders, and drove it 
through his breast : and he made a sound when falling, 
and his arms rung over him. But Idomeneus slew 
Phasstus, the son of Maeonian Borus, who had come from 
very fertile Tarne: him indeed the spear-famed Idomeneus 
pierced with a long lance, in the act of mounting his 
horses, in the right shoulder : and he fell from the vehicle, 
and horrible darkness seized him. Then the servants of 
Idomeneus stripped him. But Menelaus, the son of 
Atreus, slew with a sharp spear Scamandrius, the son of 
Strophius, skilled in hunting, a distinguished huntsman : 
for Diana herself taught him to strike all wild animals 
which the wood in the mountains supports. But arrow- 
delighting Diana did not then at least avail him, nor yet 
his skill in distant hurling in which he had been formerly 
accomplished : but the son of Atreus, spear-famed Mene- 
laus wounded him in the back with a spear, flying before 
him, between the shoulders, and drove it through his 
breast. And he fell on his face, and his arms rung over 
him. But Meriones slew Phereclus, son of the artist 
Harmonides, who was skilled in forming every kind of 
artificial things with his hands, for Pallas Minerva loved 
him exceedingly : who also built for Alexander the well- 
proportioned ships, the origin of their woes, which 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



81 



became the destruction of all the Trojans, and of himself 
too, forasmuch as he had by no means been acquainted 
with the will of the gods. Him indeed Meriones, when 
forsooth, he overtook him in the pursuit, struck in the 
right haunch, and the lance went onward quite through, 
near the bladder under the bone : and he fell to his 
knees, lamenting, and death covered him around. 

But Meges slew Pedeeus, son of Antenor, who was 
indeed spurious, yet the noble Theanor brought him up 
with care equally with her own children, gratifying her 
own husband : him indeed the spear-renowned son of 
Phyleus, approaching near, struck in the back of the 
head with a sharp spear, and the steel cut entirely 
through the teeth under the tongue : and he fell down 
in the dust, and grasped the cold steel with his teeth. But 
Eurypylus, son of Eu86mon, slew noble Hypsenor, son of 
magnanimous Dolopion, who had been ordained priest of 
Scamander, and was honoured by the people as a god : 
him indeed Eurypylus, the renowned son of EusDinon, 
struck in the shoulder, as he fled before him having 
attacked him with a sword in the midst of his flight ; 
and he cut off his heavy hand. And the bloody hand 
fell to the ground, and purple death and violent fate took 
possession of his eyes. 

Thus they indeed were labouring through the severe 
conflict. But you could not distinguish the son of Tydeus, 
on which side he was present, whether he was engaged 
with the Trojans or with the Greeks : for he rushed 
furiously through the plain, like unto an inundating tor- 
rent, which, flowing swiftly, scatters bridges ; which 
neither the well-girded bridges restrain, nor the fences 
of very verdant plantations hold in, coming suddenly, 
when a tempest of Jupiter bears heavily down, and many 
beautiful works of youths are overthrown by the same : 
thus the close ranks of the Trojans were thrown into 
disorder by the son of Tydeus, neither did they sustain 
him a moment, although they were numerous. But as 
soon as they renowned son of Lycaon perceived him 
rushing furiously through the plain, he immediately 



82 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



stretched his bending bows against the son of Tydeus^ 
and struck him rushing on, hitting him in the right 
shoulder, in the cavity of the corslet : and the bitter 
arrow flew through, and opened its way to the opposite 
side: and the corslet was besmeared with blood: and 
upon this the renowned son of Lycaon shouted aloud : 
" Rush on, ye. magnanimous Trojans, spurrers of horses, 
for the bravest of the Greeks has been wounded, nor 
do I think that he will long endure the hard weapon, 
if the king, son of Jupiter has really impelled me 
setting out from Lycia." He so said, praying : but 
the swift dart did not subdue him, but retiring, he 
stood before his horses and chariot, and said to Sthenelus 
the son of Capaneus : u Make haste, friend son of 
Capaneus, come down from the chariot that you may draw 
the bitter arrow from my shoulder." So he said : but 
Sthenelus leaped down from the horses to the ground, 
and standing near, he drew the swift transfixed arrow 
from his shoulder, and the blood spouted up through the 
linky mail. Then indeed at length the brave Diomedes 
prayed : " Hear me, invulnerable daughter of iEgis- 
bearing Jupiter, if ever thou didst benevolently stand by 
me and my father in the burning battle, now again favour 
me, Minerva, and grant that I may kill the man, and 
that he come within the cast of my spear, who has struck 
me by anticipation, and boasts ; nor thinks that I will 
any longer see the splendid light of the sun." So he 
said, praying ; and Pallas Minerva heard him, and she 
made his limbs light, his feet and hands from above ; and 
standing near, she accosted him with winged words : 
" Confiding now, Diomedes, fight against the Trojans, 
for I have sent into your breast the intrepid spirit of your 
father, such as the shield-brandishing horseman Tydeus 
used to possess : moreover, I have taken away the dark- 
ness from your eyes, which was in them before, in order 
that you may well distinguish whether god or man. Now 
therefore, if a god come hither making a trial of you, do 
not thou by any means fight against the other immortal 
gods : but if Venus, daughter of Jupiter, shall come into 
the battle, wound her at least with the sharp steel." 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



83 



The azure-eyed Minerva, having so said, then went off : 
but the son of Tydeus, going back, was mixed with the 
foremost fighters : and though eager in spirit before to 
fight with the Trojans, then forsooth, thrice as much 
ardour took possession of him, just as a lion, which a 
shepherd in the country may have grazed when leaping 
over the fold among his fleecy sheep, but has not slain : 
indeed he hath only excited his strength : but afterwards 
ventures no farther aid, but conceals himself within the 
fold, while the deserted sheep fly in consternation, and 
some in masses are heaped upon one another, whilst he 
actively springs out of the lofty fold : thus active was 
the powerful Diomedes mingled with the Trojans. Then 
he slew Astynous and Hypenor, shepherd of the people, 
striking the one above the pap with a brazen pointed 
spear, the other he struck with a great sword in the collar- 
bone at the shoulder, and separated the shoulder from 
the neck, and from the back. These indeed he left, and 
went after Abantes and Polyidus, sons of Eurydamas, an 
old dream interpreter : to them setting out to the war the 
old man had not interpreted dreams, but the brave 
Diomedes spoiled them when slain. Then he went after 
Xanthus and Thoon, the sons of Phsenops, both born in 
his old age, and he was worn down with bitter old 
age, and had not begotten another son to leave behind 
for his possessions. Then he slew these, and took 
away the fond life of both, but left mourning and 
sorrowing cares to their father, seeing that he did 
not receive them returning alive from the battle : but 
his relatives divided the property among them. Then he 
seized the two sons of Dardan Priam, being in one chariot, 
Echemon and Chromius. And as a lion, bounding among 
oxen, breaks off the neck of a heifer or ox, when they are 
feeding in a thicket : so the son of Tydeus caused both 
of these to descend from their horses, sadly against their 
wills, and then stripped them of their arms, while he gave 
the horses to his own companions to dead to the ships. 
But iEneas saw him devastating the ranks of men, and 
proceeded to go through the battle, and through the 



84 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



whizzing of spears, searching for the god-like Pandarus, 
if anywhere he could find him out. He found the son of 
Lycaon, both blameless and brave : and he stood before 
him, and spoke these words in his presence : u Pandarus, 
where are your bow and winged arrows, and the renown ? 
in which no man here indeed contends with thee, neither 
does any one in Lycia boast to be superior to thee. But 
come, despatch a dart at this man, lifting up your hands 
to Jupiter, whosoever he be who acts so victoriously, and 
hath already inflicted many evils on the Trojans, since he 
has relaxed the knees of both many and brave : unless 
he be some God, incensed with the Trojans, being angry 
on account of sacrifices ; but the anger of a god is severe." 
But the renowned son of Lycaon addressed him in reply : 
".^Eneas, counsellor of the brazen-mailed Trojans, I 
indeed, think him in every respect like unto the warlike 
son of Tydeus, recognizing him by his shield and oblong 
helmet, and looking to his horses : but I do not plainly 
know whether he be a god. But if this man be, as I say, 
the warlike son of Tydeus, he does not perform these 
frantic acts without the assistance of a god, but some one 
of the immortals stands near, having his shoulders wrap- 
ped in a cloud, who turns away from him to another place 
the swift arrow that has reached him : for already have I 
cast at him an arrow, and struck him in the right shoulder 
quite through the cavity of the corslet, and I, at least, 
expected to despatch him to Pluto, but I have not sub- 
dued him at all : surely he is some angry god. But horses 
are not at hand, and chariot which I might ascend, 
though somewhere in the mansion of Lycaon there aro 
eleven beautiful chariots, lately framed, newly made : and 
covers are expanded around them : and double yoked 
horses stand by each one of them, eating white barley 
and straw. True indeed the old spearsman Lycaon very 
often charged me when coming, in his well-built mansion : 
he advised me to command the Trojans through hard 
conflicts, being mounted on horses and chariots : but I 
did not obey him (truly it would have been much more 
profitable,) sparing the horses, lest they might be in 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



85 



want of fodder in my hands, the men being shut up, 
having been accustomed to eat to satiety. So I left them 
behind, and came on foot to Ilium, relying on my bows : 
but these indeed were not destined to profit me. For 
already I have hurled at two chiefs, both the son of 
Tydeus and the son of Atreus, and have drawn true blood 
from them both by the stroke : but I have excited them 
the more. Wherefore with an evil destiny I have taken 
my curved bows from the pin, on that day when I con- 
ducted the Trojans to lovely Ilium, paying a compliment 
to noble Hector. But if I shall return, and with mine 
eyes shall look upon my country, and wife, and great 
high roofed house, immediately afterwards may an enemy 
cut off my head, if I shall not put these bows in the 
shining fire, breaking them in pieces with my hands : for 
they are useless companions to me." Again iEneas, 
leader of the Trojans, addressed him in reply : " Do not 
speak in this manner, seeing matters will not be altered 
before that we two, going against this man with our 
horses and chariot, assay him with our arms. But come, 
ascend my chariot, that you may see what kind are the 
horses of Tros, well skilled in very rapidly pursuing and 
retreating hither and thither through the plain ; which 
will also carry us safe to the city, if Jupiter shall again 
vouchsafe the glory to Diomedes son of Tydeus. But 
come, receive now the whip and beautiful reins, and I 
will dismount from the horses that I may fight : or, do 
you receive him, and the horses will be my concern." 
But the renowned son of Lycaon said to him in reply : 
" .ZEneas, do you indeed yourself hold the reins and your 
own horses : they will carry the curved chariot better 
under their accustomed charioteer, if perchance we shall 
retreat from the son of Tydeus, lest they, taking fright, 
become restive, and be not willing to carry us out of the 
battle, missing your voice : but the son of magnanimous 
Tydeus, making an attack on us, would both kill ourselves, 
and drive away the whole-hoofed steeds. But do you 
yourself drive your own chariot and your own horses, and 
I will receive his onset with a sharp spear." Thus, for- 



F 



8G 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



sooth, having spoken, having ascended the variegated 
chariot, they impetuously directed the swift-horses against 
the son of Tydeus. But Sthenelus, the renowned son of 
Capaneus, saw them, and instantly addressed the son of 
Tydeus with winged words : " Diomedes, son of Tydeus, 
dearest to my soul, I see two powerful men eager to fight 
against you, possessing immense strength : the one indeed 
is Pandarus, well skilled in the bow, and he boasts to be 
the son of Lycaon : but ^Eneas glories, indeed to have 
been born the son of blameless Anchises, while his mother 
is Venus. But come, let us retire upon the chariot, and 
do not, I beseech you, rush thus furiously through the 
foremost fighters, lest perchance you should lose your own 
precious life." But then the brave Diomedes, looking at 
him with stern aspect, said : u By no means advise me to 
flight, since I think that you shall not persuade me. For 
it accords not with my disposition to shrink from the con- 
test, nor flutter with fear : as yet my strength is firm. I 
am, moreover, averse to entering the chariot, so shall 
advance to meet them even as I am : Pallas Minerva 
permits me not to tremble. The swift-horses shall not 
carry these both back again away from us, if even one 
of them shall escape. But one thing I will mention to 
you, and do you lay it up in your mind : in case the very 
thoughtful Minerva vouchsafes to me the glory of killing 
them both, do thou then restrain these swift steeds here, 
stretching the reins from the seat-hook, and mindfully 
rush upon the horses of iEneas, and drive them from the 
Trojans to the well-greaved Achaeans : for they are of 
that race of which the wide-seeing Jupiter gave to Tros, 
as a compensation for his son Ganymedes : wherefore 
they are the best of horses, as many as are under Aurora 
and the sun. Anchises, king of men, stole from this race, 
submitting mares without the knowledge of Laomedon : 
of the breed of these, six were born to him in his house. 
Keeping four indeed himself, he fed them well at a manger, 
but he gave those two to iEneas, being masters of flight. 
If we shall take these we shall bear off distinguished 
glory." 



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87 



Thus these indeed talked such things to one another : 
but those quickly came near, driving their swift steeds. 
Him the renowned son of Lycaon first addressed: "Thou 
stiff-minded, warlike son of Tydeus, the swift dart, the 
bitter arrow has not at all indeed subdued thee : now 
again I will make a trial with the spear, if I can hit you." 
He so said, and, brandishing, hurled a long shadow-casting 
spear, and struck the shield of the son of Tydeus, and 
the brazen point, flying entirely through it, approached 
the corslet. And upon this the renowned son of Lycaon 
shouted aloud : " You are wounded in the belly thoroughly, 
nor do I think that you will any longer endure, but thou 
hast given great glory to me." But the mighty Diomedes, 
not dismayed, said to him: "You have erred, neither 
have you hit me : but I think indeed that ye two will not 
cease before that one or other of you, having fallen, shall 
satiate the indefatigable warrior Mars with his blood." 
So saying, he hurled, and Minerva directed the dart 
straight into his nose at the eye, and made it pass through 
the white teeth. And the hard steel cut away the root 
of his tongue, and the point went out at the bottom of 
the chin. And he fell from the chariot, and his arms 
rung over him, variegated, all shining; but the swift-footed 
horses took fright: and both the spirit and strength of him 
were there dissolved. But iEneas leaped off with his 
shield, and a long spear, fearing lest by any means the 
Achaeans should carry away from him the dead body : 
and he went round it, as a lion, confiding in his strength: 
and before himself he held a spear, and well-rounded 
shield, ready to kill him, whosoever might come to oppose 
him, vociferating terribly : but the son of Tydeus grasped 
with his hand a stone of great weight, which two men 
could not bear, — such mortals as now exist — but he 
wielded it easily even alone : with it he struck the hip of 
^Eneas, where the thigh is turned in the hip, and 
they call it forsooth the cup. But he struck his cup 
with violence, and broke both tendons besides, and the 
rough stone peeled off the skin : then the hero himself 
stood, sinking to his knees, and supported himself with 



88 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



his thick hand upon the ground : and black night spread 
around his eyes. And now indeed -ZEneas, king of men, 
would have perished there, had not Venus, daughter of 
Jupiter, quickly perceived him, the mother who brought 
him forth by Anchises when feeding his oxen : and she cast 
her white arms around her own dear son, and spread the 
folding of a shiningrobe before him, tobe a defence against 
weapons, lest any of the swift-horsed Greeks, casting steel 
against his breast,might take away his life. She then 
privately bore away her own dear son from the battle. Nor 
was the son of Capaneus unmindful of those charges which 
the brave Diomedes had given him : but he restrained his 
own whole-hoofed horses apart from the tumultuous noise, 
having stretched the reins from the seat-hook : and 
rushing upon the beautiful-haired horses of ^3Eneas he 
drove them away from the Trojans to the well-greaved 
Achgeans,and gave them to his dear companion Deipylus, 
whom of all his associates he respected most, because he 
possessed a mind congenial to his own, that he might 
drive them to the hollow ships ; while the hero himself, 
having mounted his own steeds, took the admirable reins, 
and quickly caused the solid-hoofed horses to follow the 
son of Tydeus, being eagerly impetuous : but he was 
pursuing Yenus with the ruthless sword, knowing that 
she was a powerless divinity, neither one of those god- 
desses who govern with sway the war of men, nor yet 
Minerva, nor the city-sacking Bellona. But when now 
he had overtaken her after a close pursuit through the 
dense crowd, upon this the son of the magnanimous 
Tydeus, having stretched forward, wounded the feeble 
divinity in the extremity of the hand, making a spring 
with a sharp sword : and forthwith the spear pierced the 
skin, through the ambrosial robe which the graces them- 
selves elaborately made for her, above the extremity of 
the wrist : and the immortal blood of the goddess flowed, 
Ichor, such as forsooth flows from the blessed gods : for 
they do not eat food, nor drink sparkling wine ; for this 
reason they are bloodless, and are called immortal. But 
she, vociferating loudly, cast down her son from her, and 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



89 



indeed Phoebus Apollo snatched him up between his 
hands in an azure cloud, lest any of the swift-horsed 
Greeks; casting steel against his breast, might take away 
his life. But the brave Diomedes shouted loudly at her : 
"Retire, daughter of Jupiter, from the war and conflict : 
is it not enough that you practice your arts of deception 
on weak women ? But if you at least shall come often 
to the war, I certainly think that you will shudder at war, 
even if you should but hear of it elsewhere." So he spake: 
but she, distracted in spirit, went off, for she was sorely 
afflicted. Then indeed the wind-footed Iris took and led 
her out of the crowd, oppressed with pains : and she was 
livid as to her beautiful skin. Afterwards she found 
impetuous Mars sitting on the left side of the battle ; and 
his spear had been inclined in darkness, as were also his 
swift steeds : but she, falling on her knees, begged, with 
many supplications, the golden -harnessed horses of her 
own dear brother : " Dear brother, have a care of me, 
and give me horses that I may go to Olympus, where the 
seat of the immortals is: I am exceedingly troubled with a 
wound which a mortal man has inflicted on me, the son 
of Tydeus, who now indeed w ould fight even with father 
Jupiter." So she spake : and at once Mars gave her 
the golden-harnessed horses, and she went up into the 
chariot, grieving in her very heart. But Iris went 
up along with her, and took the reins in her hands, 
and scourged them to go on : but they not unwillingly 
flew, and forthwith they instantly reached the seat of the 
gods, the lofty Olympus : there wind-footed swift Iris 
stopped the horses, loosing them from the chariot, and 
cast before them ambrosial fodder. But the divine 
Venus fell upon the knees of Dione her own mother : 
and she took her own daughter in her arms, and stroked 
her down with the hand, and spake these words and 
said : " Which one of the Celestials, dear daughter, has 
done such things upon you, rashly, as if you had done 
some evil openly? But then laughter-loving Venus answer- 
ed her : " The son of Tydeus, proud Diomedes, wounded 
me, because I privately carried off my beloved son out of 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the battle, .ZEneas, who is by far the dearest to me of all. 
For no longer is the gloomy conflict between the Trojans 
and the Achaoans, but now the Greeks (at least) fight 
even with the immortals." Then Dione, divine among 
goddesses, answered her : " Bear it, my daughter, and 
endure it with patience, however grieved you be : for 
many of us, possessing Olympian habitations, have already 
suffered at the hands of men, causing bitter woes to one 
another. Mars indeed suffered, when Otus and strong 
Ephialtes, the sons of Aloeus, bound him with a hard 
chain. But he had been bound in a brazen prison 
thirteen months : and perhaps Mars, insatiable of war, 
would have perished there, had not his step-mother, the 
very beautiful Briboea, brought the tidings to Mercury : 
but he stole out Mars already worn, for the severe chain 
had afflicted him. And Juno suffered when the powerful 
son of Amphitryon struck her in the right pap with a 
three-pointed arrow, and then irremediable pain seized 
her. And the gigantic Pluto suffered a swift arrow among 
these, when the same man, son of iEgis-bearing Jupiter, 
put him to pain, having struck him at Pylos among the 
dead. But he went to the mansion of Jupiter and lofty 
Olympus, grieving in heart, being pierced with pains : 
for the arrow had been fastened in his solid shoulder and 
afflicted his soul : but Psean, sprinkling pain-alleviating 
medicine upon him, cured him : for by no means indeed 
had he been subject to death. Audacious ! regardless 
of restraint ! who felt no concern in committing wicked 
acts, who with his bows violated the gods who possess 
Olympus. But the azure-eyed goddess Minerva has 
incited this man against thee ; fool that he is, neither 
does the son of Tydeus know this in his heart, that he is 
not at all long-lived who would fight with the immortals, 
neither at all do his children at his knees call him father, 
having returned from the war and grevious conflict. 
Now therefore, let the son of Tydeus, even though he is 
very brave, take heed, lest some one superior to thee 
may fight with him : lest at some time iEgialea, the 
accomplished daughter of Adrastus, the generous wife of 



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91 



horse-taming Diomedes, may excite her own domestics 
out of sleep by her lamentations, longing for her youth- 
ful husband, the bravest of the AchaBans." She so said, 
and with both hands wiped away the Ichor from her 
her hand : her hand was healed, and the deep pains 
were alleviated. But both Minerva and Juno on the 
other hand, looking on, irritated Jupiter the son of 
Saturn with sarcastic words : and the azure-eyed 
goddess Minerva began to speak among them : " Father 
Jupiter, wilt thou in anywise be angry with me on 
account of what I shall say ? Surely now, Venus, inciting 
some one of the Grecian women to accompany the Trojans 
whom she now loves so wonderfully well, while caressing* 
some one of these well-robed Grecian women, has torn 
her delicate hand against a golden clasp." So she spake: 
but the Father both of men and gods smiled, and calling, 
he addressed golden Venus : " The works of war have 
not been assigned to you, my child : but do you at least 
attend to the desirable duties of marriage ; and all these 
things shall be the concern of swift Mars and Minerva." 
Thus they indeed talked such things to one another. 
But the valiant Diomedes rushed upon ^Eneas, knowing 
that Apollo himself held his hands over him : but he not 
even revered the great god, and was always eager to kill 
.ZEneas, and strip off his famous arms. Thrice indeed he 
thence made an attack, being ardent to slay him, and 
thrice Apollo repulsed his shining shield : but when now 
the fourth time he rushed on, equal to a dsemon, the far- 
darting Apollo then menacingly addressed him : " Take 
heed, son of Tydeus, and retire, nor wish to raise your 
thoughts to a level with the gods, since by no means is 
the race alike, both of the immortal gods and of men that 
walk upon the ground." He so spake : but the son of 
Tydeus retired a little back, shunning the wrath of the 
far-darting Apollo. But Apollo placed iEneas apart from 
the crowd in sacred Pergamus, where for him a temple 
had been built : there both Latona and arrow-rejoicing 
Diana cured him in the great recess, and covered him 
with glory. Meanwhile the silver-bowed Apollo formed 



92 



THE ILIAD -OF HOMER. 



an image both similar to ./Eneas himself and such as he 
was in armour, and around the image the Trojans and 
noble Achaeans struck the well-rounded shields and light 
bucklers around the breasts of one another. Then at 
length Phoebus Apollo addressed impetuous Mars : 
"Mars, Mars, destroyer of mortals, slaughter-tainted, 
overturner of walls, wouldst thou not now, by intervening, 
remove this man from the battle, the son of Tydeus, who, 
now at least, would fight even with father Jupiter ? First 
indeed, with sword in hand he wounded Cypris in the 
hand at the wrist, but afterwards he rushed upon me 
myself, equal to a dasmon/'' 

So saying, he himself sat down upon lofty Pergamus, 
but pernicious Mars went and stirred up the Trojan lines, 
making himself like unto Acamas, the swift leader of the 
Thracians. And he encouraged the Jove-bred sons of 
Priam : " sons of Priam, the Jove-bred king, how long* 
will ye suffer the people to be slain by the Achaeans ? Is 
it until they fight around the well-made gates ? The man 
lies, whom we honoured equally with noble Hector, 
-ZEneas the son of magnanimous Anchises : but come, let 
us carry our distinguished companion safe from the 
tumult." So saying, he excited the strength and spirit 
of each one. Upon that Sarpedon bitterly rebuked 
noble Hector : " O Hector, whither now is your 
strength gone, which before this you possessed ? Y~ou 
said once that you could keep the city without forces and 
auxiliaries, alone, together with your brothers-in-law and 
thine own brothers : of these at present I can neither see 
nor perceive any : but they are quaking with fear, as dogs 
around a lion. But we, who are here as auxiliaries, bear 
the brunt of the battle. For I too, being an auxiliary, 
am come from a very great distance : for Lycia is far 
away at the eddy Xanthus, where I left behind a beloved 
wife and infant son, and many possessions, which the 
needy man desires. But even so I urge on the Lycians, 
and am prepared myself to fight with the man : though I 
have nothing here, such as the Achaeans might either 
carry or take away. But you stand still, and not even 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. 



93 



encourage the other troops to remain, and fight in defence 
of their wives. Beware, lest, as if caught in the meshes 
of the all-capturing thread, ye become a capture and a prey- 
to your adversaries. These assuredly will soon demolish 
your well situated city. It is necessary then that all 
these things should be a concern to thee both night and 
day, beseeching the leaders of the far-called auxiliaries 
to persevere incessantly, and to lay aside their fierce 
contention." 

So spake Sarpedon : but the speech bit the heart of 
Hector : and instantly he leaped from his chariot with his 
arms to the ground : and, brandishing sharp spears, he 
went everywhere through the army, inciting them to fight, 
and he stirred up the gloomy conflict. They were now 
rallied, and stood opposite the Achgeans : but the Greeks 
sustained them, in a body, neither were they put to flight. 
And as the wind carries the chaff through the sacred 
threshing-floors, when men are winnowing, and when 
yellow Ceres separates with pressing winds the ear from 
the chaff, and the heaps of chaff are somewhat white : So 
then the Achseans became white from above with the 
excited dust, which the feet of the horses again mingling 
in the combat raised by violent concussion of the ground, 
through themselves up to the very solid heaven : the 
charioteers, forsooth, wheeled round their horses. But 
they carried the strength of their hands directly onwards : 
and impetuous Mars spread darkness over the battle, 
assisting the Trojans, running in haste everywhere : and 
he was accomplishing the commands of Phoebus Apollo 
carrying the golden sword, who ordered him to excite the 
spirit of the Trojans, after he saw Pallas Minerva going 
away; for she was the assistant of the Greeks. But he him- 
self sent forth iEneas from his very rich recess, and infused 
strength into the breast of the shepherd of the people. 
.ZEneas now stood among his companions, and they 
rejoiced when they beheld him approaching, both living* 
and uninjured, and having excellent spirit : however, they 
asked no question : for the other labour did not permit, 
which the god of the silver bow excited, and mortal- 



94 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. 



destroying Mars, and Eris insatiably furious. But the 
two Ajaxes and Ulysses and Diomedes urged on the 
Greeks to fight : but these even themselves feared neither 
the violence nor the clamours of the Trojans : and they 
remained firm, like unto clouds which the son of Saturn, 
in the time of a calm, has placed upon the lofty tops of 
mountains, motionless, as long as the strength of Boreas 
sleeps, and that of the other impetuous winds, which, 
blowing with whistling blasts, disperse the shadowy 
clouds : thus the Greeks awaited the Trojans firmly, 
neither were they put to flight. And the son of Atreus 
roved through the troops, giving many orders : "0 friends, 
be men, and assume a vigorous heart, and revere one 
another through the hard conflicts. Far more of the 
men that feel a sense of shame are safe than slain, whilst 
neither glory, nor any aid springs up to men that run 
away." He said, and hurled with a spear briskly : and 
he struck a leading man, the companion of magnanimous 
.ZEneas, Deicoon the son of Pergasis, whom the Trojans 
honoured equally with the sons of Priam, forasmuch as 
he was active in fighting among the foremost : him for- 
sooth, King Agamemnon struck with the spear on the 
shield, which did not restrain the javelin, but it passed 
onward through even it, and pierced the bottom of his 
belly through the belt. But when falling he sent forth 
a sound, and his arms rung over him. Then on the other 
hand ^Eneas slew those men most brave, the sons of 
Diocles, Orethon and Orsilochus; their father indeed 
dwelt in well-built Phera, abounding in wealth : and his 
race was from the river Alpheus, which broadly flows 
through the land of the Pylians. He begat Orsilochus, 
King over many men : and Orsilochus begat magnanimous 
Diocles ; and from Diocles were born twin sons, Crethon 
and Orsilochus, well versed in every mode of fight. 
These indeed, having just arrived at the age of puberty, 
accompanied the Greeks in black ships to Ilium abound- 
ing in steeds, exacting compensation for the sons of 
Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus : but final death 
covered them there : such indeed, as two lions in the 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



95 



summits of a mountain have been reared by the mother 
in the thickets of a lofty wood : they in process of time, 
snatching away oxen and fat sheep, devastate the stalls 
of men, until they themselves also are slain with the sharp 
steel by the hands of men : such did these, being subdued 
by the hands of ^3Eneas, fall down, similar to tall firs. 
But the brave Menelaus pitied them when fallen, and 
proceeded through the foremost fighters, armed with 
shining brass, waving a lance : and Mars excited his 
spirit, with the intent that he might be subdued by the 
hands of iEneas. But Antilochus, the son of magnani- 
mous Nestor, saw him, and went through the foremost 
fighters : for he feared exceedingly for the shepherd of 
the people, lest he should suffer any thing, and greatly 
disappoint them of the fruits of their labour. They indeed 
were now holding both hands and sharp spears opposite to 
each other, eager to fight : but Antilochus stood very near 
to the shepherd of the people : and .iEneas did not remain, 
active warrior though he was, when he saw two men stand- 
ing beside each other. But they, as soon as they had drawn 
the dead to the people of the Achasans, placed them miser- 
able in the hands of their companions, and turning about 
themselves joined in the engagement among the foremost. 
Then they slew Pylaemenes, equivalent to Mars, the leader 
of the magnanimous shielded Paphlagonians. Him in- 
deed the son of Atreus, spear-renowned Menelaus, pierced 
with a lance when standing, hitting him on the collar 
bone. But Antilochus struck Mydon the chariooeer, his 
valiant attendant, the son of Atymnias, (but he was in 
the act of turning round his whole-hoofed steeds,) having 
hit him in the middle of the arm with a hand stone : and 
the reins, white with ivory, fell from his hands to the 
ground in the dust. Antilochus at once rushing on 
struck his temple with a cutlass, and he panting fell from 
the well made seat, headlong in the dust, and he re- 
mained a long while upon his sinciput and shoulders — for 
he happened to fall in deep sand — until the horses by 
concussion of the ground scattered him in the dust. But 
these Antilochus lashed away, and drove to the Army of 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the Achseans. Now Hector perceived these through the 
ranks, and rushed against themselves, vociferating : and 
brave troops of Trojans at once followed : and Mars 
commanded them, also the venerable Enyo : she indeed, 
having the excessive noise of battle, whilst Mars waved 
in his hands an enormous spear, and paced one while 
before Hector, another while behind. But Diomedes 
expert in battle, having spied him, shuddered. And as 
when a man uncertain of his course, after traversing a 
spacious plain, stands upon the brink of a rapid river 
flowing on to the sea, and, when he beholds it murmuring 
with foam, runs back in haste, so then the son of Tydeus 
retreated, and said unto the people : " O friends, what a 
marvellous sight we behold in noble Hector, for being 
both a spearsman and a courageous warrior ! But one 
of the gods is ever near him, who wards off destruction : 
and now that Mars is near him, like unto a mortal man. 
But retreat backward, being always turned toward the 
Trojans, and be not desirous of fighting bravely with the 
gods." So he said : but the Trojans had come very near 
to them : then Hector slew two men skilled in battle, 
being in one chariot, Menesthes and Anchialus : but the 
great Telamonian Ajax pitied them when they fell, and 
going very near, he stood, and hurled with a shining 
spear, and struck Amphius son of Selagus, who, forsooth, 
dwelt in Paesus, being very wealthy, possessed of much 
land : but Fate led him on with the intention of bringing 
aid to Priam and sons : him Telamonian Ajax struck in 
the belt, and the long shadow-casting spear was fixed in 
the bottom of his belly : and he made a sound when 
falling, and illustrious Ajax ran towards him to strip off 
the arms, and the Trojans poured upon him sharp all- 
shining spears, and his shield received many. Meanwhile 
he, stepping on with his heel, plucked out the brazen 
shaft from the dead body : nor yet was he able to take 
away the other beautiful arms from the shoulders, for he 
was pressed with the darts : and the hero feared the 
powerful encompassment of the proud Trojans, who, 
both numerous and valiant, pressed on with spears in 



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97 



hand, who repulsed him away from themselves, though 
he was great and powerful and illustrious : and he, reced- 
ing, was roughly handled. So these, indeed, were 
labouring through the severe conflict. But violent fate 
impelled Tlepolemus the son of Hercules, both brave and 
great, against the god-like Sarpedon : and w T hen they 
were now near, coming against each other, both the son 
and grandson of cloud-collecting Jupiter, Tlepolemus 
first addressed him with these words : " Sarpedon, prince 
of the Lycians, what necessity is there for you to be in a 
flurry here, being a man unskilled in battle ? But they 
say falsely that you are the offspring of iEgis-bearing 
Jupiter, since you are much inferior to those men who 
were sprung from Jupiter in the times of former men. 
But what a person do they report the powerful Hercules 
to have been, my father, courageous, lion-spirited, who, 
having formerly come here on account of the horses of 
Laomedon, with six ships only, and fewer men, de- 
molished the city of Ilium, and widowed its streets. 
But you have a dastardly spirit, and your forces are 
wasting away : nor do I think that you, having come 
from Lycia, will be any aid to the Trojans, not even if 
thou art very mighty ; but being laid low by me, you 
will pass the gates of Hades. 33 But on the other hand, 
Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, addressed him in reply : 
" Tlepolemus, he certainly did destroy sacred Ilium 
through the infatuation of the illustrious man Laomedon, 
who, forsooth, rebuked him with with bad language after 
he had acted meritoriously : neither did he give up the 
horses on account of which he came from afar : but I 
here say that slaughter and gloomy fate will happen to 
you from me; and, that being slain by my spear, you 
will give glory to me, and your soul to horse-famed 
Hades. 33 So spake Sarpedon : but Tlepolemus held up 
an ashen spear, and the long shafts rushed from their 
hands at the same time : Sarpedon indeed struck the 
middle of his neck, and the bitter point went quite 
through, and obscure night spread over his eyes. Tlepo- 
lemus had also struck the left thigh with his long spear, 



98 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



and the point rushed through with impetuosity, grazing 
the bone : but yet his father warded off death. Then 
indeed his noble companions carried the godlike Sarpedon 
out of the battle : but the long spear, being dragged 
along, caused him deep pain; which indeed no one 
noticed, nor thought of extracting the ashen spear from 
his thigh, whilst they were hastening in order that he 
might ascend the chariot : for such labour had those 
who were busied around. But on the other side the 
well-greaved Achaoans carried Tlepolemus out of the 
battle : and noble Ulysses, having a daring soul, perceived 
them, and his inmost heart was moved. He then medi- 
tated in mind and soul, whether he would pursue the son 
of loud-sounding Jupiter further, or whether he would 
take away the life of more Lycians : nor indeed, was it 
fated for the great-spirited Ulysses to slay the mighty 
son of Jupiter with the sharp steel. Wherefore Minerva 
turned his mind towards the multitude of the Lycians. 
Then he slew Ooeranus, and Alastor, and Chromius, and 
Alcandrus, and Halius, and Noemon, and Prytanis. And 
indeed noble Ulysses would have slain still more of the 
Lycians, had not the great crest-waving Hector quickly 
perceived him. He then proceeded through the foremost 
fighters, armed with glittering brass, carrying terror to the 
Greeks : and Sarpedon, son of Jupiter, rejoiced in him ap- 
proaching, and uttered this mournful speech : " Son of 
Priam, do not, I beseech you, suffer me to lie here a prey to 
the Greeks, but render aid: afterwards let life even leave 
me in your city : forasmuch as I was not destined, having 
returned home to my native land, to gladden my beloved 
wife and infant son." He so spake: however, the helmet- 
waving Hector made him no reply, but rushed by, being 
eager that he might repulse the Greeks as soon as pos- 
sible, and take away the life of many. Meanwhile, his 
noble companions placed the godlike Sarpedon under a 
very beautiful beech tree of JEgis-bearing Jupiter, and 
the brave Pelagon, who was a companion dear to him, 
soon pushed from its hold the ashen spear quite out from 
his thigh. But the spirit left him, and darkness was 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



99 



poured over his eyes : yet he again revived, while the 
breeze of Boreas, breathing upon him around, refreshed 
his sadly fainting soul. Now the Greeks were neither at 
any time turned towards the black ships under Mars and 
brazen-armed Hector, nor yet were they ever carried 
against them in battle, but always retreated backward, 
after they heard that Mars was among the Trojans. 

Then whom first, and whom last did both Hector son 
of Priam and brazen Mars slay ? The godlike Teuthras, 
and moreover the horse-spurring Orestes, and Trechus 
the iEtolian spearsman and CEnomaus, and Helenus son 
of CEnopis, and Oresbius wearing a variegated corslet, 
who dwelt in Hyla, being greatly intent upon riches, 
bordering on the lakeCephisis: and beside him dwelt other 
Boeotians possessing a very rich territory. But as soon 
as the white-armed goddess Juno perceived these killing 
the Greeks in the severe conflict, she forthwith addressed 
Minerva with winged words : "Alas! daughter of iEgis- 
bearing Jupiter, invulnerable ! surely we made this vain 
promise to Menelaus, that he should return after having 
destroyed well-walled Ilium, if we shall suffer pernicious 
Mars to rage in this manner. But come now, let us also 
be mindful of impetuous fortitude." She so spake : nor 
did the azure-eyed goddess Minerva disobey. Then Juno, 
venerable goddess, daughter of the great Saturn, going 
in haste, got ready her golden-harnassed steeds. And 
Hebe actively applied to the chariot curved wheels, brazen, 
having eight spokes, around an iron axletree, the golden 
felloes of which, forsooth, are incorruptible, whilst above 
them were brazen plates well-fitted, a marvel to behold : 
but the naves were of silver, rotund on both sides : and 
the seat was bound with gold and silver straps, and there 
were two semicircles from which to suspend the reins : 
and from it a silver pole projected, at the extremity of 
which she bound a beautiful golden yoke, and put in 
beautiful golden reins : and Juno brought under the yoke 
the swift-footed horses, being eager for the strife of battle. 
Meanwhile, Minerva, daughter of .ZEgis -bearing Jupiter, 
let flow down her fine robe upon the pavement of her 



100 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



father, variegated, which she herself had made and 
wrought with her hands : and she, having put on a coat 
of mail, armed herself with the arms of cloud-collecting* 
Jupiter for the tear-causing war, and about her shoulders 
she cast a fringed iEgis, dreadful, around which on all 
sides Phobus was plumed : and in it was Eris, and in it 
Alke, and in it fierce Loka, and in it also the Gorgon 
head of a hideous monster, frightful, and terrible, the 
prodigy of ^Egis-b earing Jupiter. And upon her head 
she placed a dogskin helmet surrounded with a cone, 
having four crests, golden, fit for the guards of one 
hundred cities. And with her feet she ascended the 
shining chariot, and took a spear, heavy, great, strong, 
with which she subdues the ranks of brave men, with 
whomsoever the offspring of a mighty father is enraged. 
And Juno briskly urged on the horses with a whip. But 
the gates of heaven grated spontaneously, which the 
seasons kept, to which have been committed the great 
heaven and Olympus, both to open and to shut the dense 
cloud. By this way through these they directed the spur- 
obeying steeds, and found the son of Saturn sitting apart 
from the other gods, on the highest top of many-peaked 
Olympus. There the white-armed goddess Juno, having 
stopped the horses, interrogated Jupiter supreme, the 
son of Saturn, and addressed him : " Father Jupiter I 
art thou not angry with Mars on account of these violent 
deeds? what numerous and excellent forces of the Achaeans 
he has destroyed rashly and indecorously ! To me indeed 
it is a grief : but they, both Venus and the silver-bowed 
Apollo, are quietly delighted, having let go this mad man 
who knows not any bounds. Jupiter, Sire ! wilt thou be 
anything angry with me, if, having striped Mars severely, 
I shall drive him from the battle V But cloud-collecting* 
Jupiter, replying, said unto her : " Go then, incite the 
plundering Minerva against him, who has been most 
accustomed to bring him to bitter pains." So he spake: 
and the white-armed Juno obeyed with alacrity, and 
whipped on the horses : and they with readiest wills flew 
midway between earth and starry heaven. And as far as 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



101 



a man sees with his eyes through the horizontal air, 
sitting in a watch tower, looking over the purple main ; 
so far do the high-sounding horses of the gods leap at a 
bound. But when now they came to Troy, and the flowing 
rivers, where Simois and Scamander mingle their streams 
together, there the white-armed goddess Juno stopped 
the horses, loosing them from the vehicle, and poured 
around them a great mist. And Simois caused ambrosial 
pasturage to spring up for them to feed on. But they went 
resembling timid doves in their gait, being eager to assist 
the men of Argos. And when they had now come where 
the most numerous and bravest forces were standing, 
gathered around the valiant horse-taming Diomedes, like 
unto raw-devouring lions, or boars, whose strength is not 
infirm : there standing, the white-armed goddess Juno 
shouted, assimilating herself to the great-spirited, brazen- 
voiced Stentor, who shouted as loud as fifty others : 
" Shame, Greeks, dastardly cowards, admirable in 
appearance only ! As long as noble Achilles frequented 
the war, the Trojans were never wont to advance before 
the Dardan gates ; for they feared his mighty spear : but 
now they fight far from the city at the hollow ships." 
So saying, she excited the strength and soul of each. 
But the azure-eyed goddess Minerva came suddenly on 
the son of Tydeus, and found this King at his horses and 
chariot, cooling the wound which Pandarus had inflicted 
upon him with an arrow : for the sweat under the broad 
strap of his well-rounded shield afflicted him : with which 
indeed he was afflicted, and was tired in hand : and hold- 
ing up the strap, he was wiping away the black blood : 
but the goddess touched the horses' yoke and said : 
" Truly Tydeus begat a son little like to himself. Tydeus, 
though little indeed in stature, was yet a warrior. And 
when at times I did not permit him to fight, or to rush 
on with violence, when, for instance, he came apart from 
the AchsGans, as an ambassador to Thebes, to many 
Cadmeans, I ordered him to feast in the mansion quietly: 
but he possessing a brave spirit of his own, as before 
that, challenged the youths of the Cadmeans : and he 



G 



102 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



overcame them in all things easily : such an assistant 
was I to him. And though I, indeed, stand by you, and 
also guard you, and promptly encourage you to fight 
against the Trojans ; yet either weariness consequent on 
much toil has entered your limbs, or, some how, dis- 
heartening fear seizes you: you, then, are not the off-spring 
of Tydeus the warlike son of CEneus. But the valiant 
Diomedes addressed her in reply : " I know thee, god- 
dess, daughter of iEgis-bearing Jupiter : wherefore I 
will promptly tell to thee the reason, neither will I con- 
ceal it. Neither does any disheartening fear seize me, 
nor yet any sloth : but I am still mindful of thy com- 
mands, which thou committed to me. Thou didst not 
permit me to fight against the other blessed gods : but, 
if Venus, daughter of Jupiter, should come into the 
battle, to wound her indeed, with the sharp steel. For 
this reason now I both retreat myself, and have ordered 
the other Greeks to be assembled all here : for I recognize 
Mars ruling over the battle." But the azure-eyed goddess 
Minerva then answered him : " Diomedes, son of 
Tydeus, dearest to my soul, neither be thou afraid of this 
Mars, nor any other of the immortals : such an assistant 
am I to thee. But come, direct your whole-hoofed steeds 
against Mars first, and strike him in close contact, neither 
revere impetuous Mars, this frenzied, unnatural pest, 
ever inconsistent with himself : who lately promised, 
saying indeed to me and likewise to J uno, that he would 
fight against the Trojans, and assist the Greeks : but 
now he is engaged on the side of the Trojans, and is 
forgetful of these." So speaking, she pushed Sthenelus 
away from his horses to the ground, drawing him back- 
ward with her hand : and he at once actively leaped off. 
But the impetuous goddess mounted the seat beside 
noble Diomedes, and the beechen axle loudly groaned 
under the weight ; for it carried a dread divinity and a 
most valiant man. And Pallas Minerva took the whip 
and reins : and instantly directed the whole-hoofed horses 
against Mars first. He indeed had just slain the gigantic 
Periphas, far the bravest of the .ZEtolians, the renowned 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. 



103 



son of Ochesius : him indeed slaughter-tainted Mars was 
slaying : but Minerva put on the helmet of Hades, lest 
impetuous Mars should see her. But as soon as mortal- 
destroying Mars saw noble Diomedes, he at once suffered 
huge Periphas to lie there, where first killing he had 
taken away his soul, and he went direct against horse- 
taming Diomedes. And when they were now near 
coming against each other, Mars first stretched himself 
forward, above the yoke and reins of the horse, with a 
brazen spear, eager to take away his soul. And this 
indeed, the azure-eyed goddess Minerva, catching with 
her hand, pushed it away from the chariot, that it might 
take a vain flight. Secondly then, Diomedes, expert in 
battle made an attack with a brazen spear, and Pallas 
Minerva forced it into the bottom of his belly, where he 
was girded with a girdle : there forsooth, he wounded him 
with the stroke, and lacerated his beautiful skin : but 
he drew out the spear again. Then brazen Mars bellowed 
as loud as nine thousand or ten thousand men shout in 
war, when engaging in martial contest. Then truly a 
tremor seized both the Achseans and Trojans, being 
frightened : so loudly did Mars, insatiable of war, bellow. 

And as from the clouds a black vapour appears, the 
effect of heat arising from a wind of difficult respiration, 
such did the brazen Mars appear to Diomedes son of 
Tydeus, as he went up together with clouds to the 
spacious heaven. And swiftly he came to the seat of the 
gods, the lofty Olympus, and sat down beside Jupiter 
son of Saturn, grieving in soul, and showed the immortal 
blood flowing down from the wound, and lamenting 
he addressed him with winged-words : " Father 
Jupiter! art thou not angry, beholding these atrocious 
deeds ? we deities have ever endured most bitter things 
indeed, through each other's machinations, with the 
view of gratifying men. We are all opposed to 
thee: for thou didst bring forth the frenzied, pernicious 
girl, to whom wicked deeds are always a concern : 
for indeed, all the other gods, as many as are in 
Olympus, are obedient to thee, and we are in subjection 



104 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. 



every one : but her thou dost by no means restrain either 
by word or deed, but you let her have her own way, for- 
asmuch as you yourself have begotten the destructive 
maid : who now has incited the son of Tydeus, proud 
Diomedes to rage against the immortal gods. In the 
first place indeed, with sword in hand, he wounded Venus 
in the hand at the wrist; and afterwards he rushed upon 
me myself, with the force of a daemon. But my swift 
feet carried me away -• otherwise I should long have 
suffered woes there among the gloomy dead, or, being 
alive, I should have been enfeebled by strokes of the 
steel." But then cloud-collecting Jupiter with stern 
countenance addressed him : " thou inconstant fellow, 
do not by any means sit beside me, whining. Thou art 
indeed the most hateful to me of the gods that possess 
Olympus : for thou art ever fond of contention, and wars, 
and battles : the temper of thy mother Juno is intolerable, 
unyielding, whom I indeed with difficulty repress with 
words. Wherefore, methinks you suffer these things 
through her machinations : but yet I will not suffer thee 
to have pains any longer, for you are sprung from me, 
and your mother brought you forth to me : but had you, 
destructive as you are, been sprung from any other of 
the gods, you should long since have been lower than the 
children of Uranus." He so spake, and ordered Paeon 
to heal him : and Paeon, sprinkling pain-assuaging 
medicine upon him, cured him : for by no means was he 
subject to death. And as when the runnet, being agitated, 
curdles the white milk, fluid before, but which is very 
speedily coagulated while one mixes it round, so indeed 
he quickly healed impetuous Mars. And Hebe bathed 
him, and put on him graceful garments : and he sat down 
beside Jupiter son of Saturn, exulting in glory. Then 
both Juno of Argos and Minerva of Alalcomenae again 
returned to the mansion of great Jupiter, after they had 
caused mortal-destroying Mars to cease from the carnage 
of men. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER, 



SIXTH BOOK. 



Now the grievous conflict of the Trojans and Achseans 
was left alone : and the battle frequently inclined on 
this side and on that side through the plain, as they 
directed their brazen-pointed spears against each other, 
between the streams of Simois and Xanthus. But Tela- 
monian Ajax, the main stay of the Achaeans, first broke 
the line of the Trojans, and brought light to his com- 
panions, having struck a man who had been the most 
distinguished amongst the Thracians, Acamas, son of 
Eussorus, both strenuous and great. Him forsooth, he 
first struck on the cone of the helmet thick with horse 
hair : and the brazen point fastened in his forehead, and 
penetrated the bone within, and darkness spread over his 
eyes. Likewise Diomedes, expert in battle, slew Axylus 
the son of Teuthranis, who dwelt in well-built Arisbe, 
abounding in wealth, and he was beloved by men : for he 
used to atford entertainment to all, inhabiting a house by 
the way. But none of these coming up in his defence, 
was then able to ward off from him mournful destruction : 
but he took away the life of both himself and his attendant 
Calesius, who, forsooth, was then the charioteer of his 
horses : and they both went under the earth. 

And Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius : and went 
after Aesepus and Pedasus, whom formerly the nymph 
Nais Abarbarea brought forth to the blameless Bucolion : 
but Bucolion was the eldest son of illustrious Laomedon, 
and his mother bore him clandestinely. When he was a 
shepherd he was mixed with her in love and bed among 
the sheep : and she being pregnant gave birth to twin- 



106 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



born children. And of these indeed the son of Mecis- 
teus relaxed the strength and goodly limbs, and stripped 
the armour from their shoulders. Also the warlike 
Polypcetes slew Astyalus : and Ulysses slew Pidytes the 
Percosian, with a brazen lance ; and Teucer the noble 
Aretaon. And Antilochus son of Nestor killed Ablerus 
with a shining spear : and Agamemnon king of men, 
Elatus ; but he inhabited the lofty Pedasus, on the banks 
of the beautiful flowing river Satniois. And the hero 
Leitus slew Phylacus flying away : and Eurypylus spoiled 
when he slew Melanthius. 

Soon afterwards Menelaus, expert in battle took Adras- 
tus alive : for his horses flying in consternation through 
the plain, having been impeded by a myrtle branch, 
when they had broken the curved chariot at the 
extremity of the pole, were themselves indeed going 
towards the city, whither the others were flying in 
confusion : but he himself had been rolled out from 
his seat near the wheel, prone in the dust upon his 
mouth : but beside him stood Menelaus son of Atreus, 
holding a long shadow casting spear. Adrastus then 
at once catching him by the knees supplicated him : 
" Take me alive, son of Atreus, and do thou receive a 
worthy ransom, for many precious possessions are lying 
in the house of my wealthy father, both brass and 
gold, and elaborately wrought iron, of which certainly 
my father would bestow you a boundless compensation, 
if he should hear that I am alive at the ships of the 
Achgeans.-" So he spake : and indeed he persuaded the 
mind in his breast, and he was just on the point of con- 
signing him to his attendant to take him down to the 
ships of the Achaeans : but Agamemnon came running to 
meet him, and crying out in remonstrance he said these 
words : " effeminate ! Menelaus ! but why are you so 
much concerned for these men ? Surely the most meritori- 
ous things have been done to you by the Trojans at home : 
not any of whom shall escape gloomy destruction, and our 
own hands, not even whomsoever a mother carries in her 
womb being an infant, not even he shall escape: but all to- 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



107 



gether shall utterly perish out of Ilium, unhonoured with 
the rites of burial, and covered in oblivion." So saying, the 
hero persuaded his brother's mind, advising him aright : 
and he pushed away from himself with his hand the hero 
Adrastus : and king Agamemnon wounded him in the 
flank, and he was thrown back : but the son of Atreus, 
stepping on his breast with his heel, drew out the ashen 
spear. But Nestor encouraged the Argives, shouting 
aloud : " friends, Grecian heroes, servants of Mars, let 
no one now, through desire of spoils, linger behind, as 
though he might return to the ships, carrying the most : 
but let us kill the men, and afterwards you shall also, at 
your ease, strip these from the dead bodies through the 
plain." So saying, he incited the ardour and spirit of 
each one. And then truly the Trojans would have gone 
up into Ilium, under the Mars-loved Achseans, being 
overcome through want of energy, had not Helenus, son 
of Priam, by far the best of soothsayers, standing near, 
said to both .ZEneas and Hector : " iEneas and Hector, 
since upon you most of all the Trojans and Lycians the 
labour devolves, because you are the most excellent in 
every point, both in fighting and consulting ; stand there, 
and keep together the forces before the gates, running 
among them every where, ere they, flying, fall in the 
arms of their wives, and become a joy to their foes. 
But whenever you have encouraged all the troops, we 
indeed will fight with the Danai, remaining here, 
though very much pressed : — for necessity compels us : — 
but do you, Hector, go to the city, and forthwith say 
to your mother and mine : and let her, gathering the 
venerable women into the temple of azure-eyed Minerva 
in the highest of the city, having opened the doors of 
the sacred house with a key, place a robe, which appears 
to her to be the most elegant and largest in the edifice, 
and by far the most valuable in her own estimation, 
upon the knees of beautiful-haired Minerva; and 
promise to her that she will sacrifice in the temple 
twelve heifers, yearlings, that have not felt the goad, 
if she will pity the city and the wives of the Trojans 



108 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



and their infant children ; if likewise, she will keep off 
from sacred Ilium the son of Tydeus, that fierce spears- 
man ; and powerful master of routing, whom truly I judge 
to be the bravest of the Greeks. Nor did we ever thus 
fear Achilles, prince of men, whom they report to be the 
son of a goddess : but this man is exceedingly furious, 
neither is any one able to be a match for him in strength." 
So he spake : but Hector by no means disobeyed his 
brother ; for immediately he leaped from his chariot with 
his arms to the ground : and brandishing sharp spears, 
he went everywhere throughout the army, inciting them 
to fight, and he stirred up the gloomy conflict. And 
they were turned round, and stood opposite to the 
Achaeans : but the Greeks retreated and ceased from 
slaughter : for they thought that some one of the im- 
mortals had come down from the starry heaven to assist 
the Trojans, as they were so turned round. But Hector 
encouraged the Trojans, shouting aloud : " Magnanimous 
Trojans, and auxilaries called from afar, be men, my 
friends, and call to mind impetuous fortitude, whilst I go 
to Ilium, and say to the senior counsellors, and to our 
own wives, that they may pray to the gods, and vow 
hecatombs." Having thus spoken, crest-waving Hector 
went off at once, and the black skin struck his ankles 
and neck around, the rim which run in the extremity of 
his bossy shield. 

But Glaucus the son of Hippolochus and the son of 
Tydeus advanced into the middle of both armies, eager 
to fight. And when they were now nearly coming upon 
each other, Diomedes expert in battle first addressed 
him : " But who art thou, most excellent, of mortal men ? 
for I have never seen your face in the glorious battle 
before : but now however, hast thou far surpassed all by 
thy courage, seeing you await my long spear : the children 
of the hapless indeed, are they who come to oppose my 
strength. But if thou art any one of the immortals come 
down from heaven, I indeed would not fight with the 
celestial gods : for not even did the brave Lycurgus, son 
of Dryas, live long, who contended with the celestial 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



109 



gods : who once pursued the nurses of raging Bacchus 
through sacred Nysseium, and they all at once cast down 
their ritual implements upon the ground, being lashed 
with an ox-goad by manslaying Lycurgus : and Bacchus, 
being put to flight, went under the wave of the sea, and 
Thetis received him in her bosom, fearing, for vehement 
trembling had seized him on account of the man's threat. 
Afterwards indeed, the gods living in tranquillity were 
angry with him, and the son of Saturn made him blind ; 
nor did he live long afterwards, when he became hateful 
to all the immortal gods. Nor would I be willing to 
fight with the blessed gods : but if thou art any of the 
mortals who eat the fruit of the earth, come nearer, that 
you may the sooner come to final destruction/'' But the 
illustrious son of Hippolochus said to him in turn : 
u Magnanimous son of Tydeus, why do you inquire after 
my race ? The generation of men is exceeding like that 
of leaves : some leaves indeed the wind scatters on the 
ground, whilst the germinating wood produces others, 
and they grow up in the time of spring. So is the 
generation of men, one produces, another ceases to do so. 
But if you wish to learn these things also, in order that 
you may well know our race, — indeed many men know 
it : — there is a city Ephyra in a recess of horse-feeding 
Argos, there Sisyphus used to be, Sisyphus the son of 
iEolis, who was the most cunning of men : he, forsooth, 
begat a son, Glaucus : but Glaucus begat the blameless 
Bellerophon : and the gods afforded to him beauty and 
likewise amiable fortitude. But Proetus devised evil 
things for him : who in fact expelled him from the state, 
since he was far the most powerful of the Argives ; for 
Jupiter had brought them under his sceptre. But the 
wife of Proetus, noble Antea, conceived an ardent desire 
to be mixed with him in clandestine love ; but she by no 
means persuaded the virtuous minded, prudent Beller- 
ophon. She then, having told lies, said unto Proetus the 
king : " Eesolve to die, O Proetus, or kill Bellerophon, 
who wished to be mixed with me in love un willingly. " 
She so spake : but wrath seized the king on account of 



110 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



what he heard. To kill him indeed he declined, for he 
had a religious dread of this in his mind, but he sent 
him to Lycia, and he likewise furnished him with 
characters of fatal tendency, having written many per- 
nicious things in a complicated tablet, and he ordered 
him to show it to his own father-in-law, to the end that 
he might perish. But he went off to Lycia, under the 
favourable guidance of the gods : and when he had now 
come to Lycia and the streams of Xanthus, the king of 
wide Lycia with purpose of mind honoured him. For 
nine days he entertained him hospitably, and sacrificed 
nine oxen : but when now the tenth rosy-fingered aurora 
appeared, even then he questioned him, and asked to see 
the letter, which, forsooth, he brought to him from his 
son-in-law Proetus. But after he received the fatal letter 
from his son-in-law ; in the first place indeed, he ordered 
him to slay the invincible Chimera : this indeed was 
a divine progeny, and not of men, a lion before, but 
a dragon behind, and a goat in the middle, breathing 
forth the terrible strength of burning fire. And this 
indeed he slew, relying upon the signs of the gods. 
But secondly, he fought with the renowned Solymi : indeed 
he said that this was the hardest battle of men he had 
entered. Thirdly again, he slew the Amazons, women 
endued with masculine courage. Moreover, he weaved 
another cunning fraud for him returning. Having selected 
the most distinguished men from spacious Lycia, he 
placed an ambuscade; but they by no means returned 
home again, for blameless Bellerophon slew them all. 
But when now he knew that he was the illustrious off- 
spring of a god, he detained him there, and he, forsooth, 
gave him his own daughter : he also gave him the half 
of all his kingly honour, And indeed the Lycians cut 
out for him an estate surpassing others, beautiful, of 
plantation and arable ground, in order that he might 
permanently possess it. And she brought forth three 
children to prudent Bellerophon, Isandrus, and Hippolo- 
chus, and Laodamea. With Laodamea indeed sage 
Jupiter lay, and she brought forth the warlike Sarpedon 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



Ill 



equal to a god. Bat when, now even he became hateful 
to all the gods, he indeed wandered alone through the 
Aleian plain, consuming his own soul, shunning the path 
of men : but Mars, insatiable of war, slew Isandrus his 
son fighting against the renowned Solymi ; and Diana, 
handling the golden reins, being angry slew her. But 
Hippolochus begat me, and from him I say that I am 
sprung : and he sent me to Troy, and gave me very many 
commands, ever to act most nobly, and to be distinguished 
above others, and not to disgrace the race of my fore- 
fathers, who were by far the bravest both in Ephyra and 
wide Lycia : from this race and and blood I boast to you to 
be." He so spake : but Diomedes expert in battle rejoiced: 
his spear indeed he fixed down upon the many-supporting 
ground, whilst he addressed the shepherd of the people with 
pleasing words : " Surely, indeed, you are an old hereditary 
friend of mine : for noble OEneus formerly entertained in 
his house the blameless Bellerophon, having kept him 
twenty days: and theyalso presented toeach other beautiful 
pledges of hospitality. OEneus indeed, gave a belt shining 
with purple colour, and Bellerophon a goldon cup with 
double ears : and I, when coming, left it behind in my 
mansion. But Tydeus I do not remember, for he left me 
behind, being yet a little one, when the forces of the 
Achseans perished at Thebes. Wherefore now I am for 
you indeed, a friendly host in the middle of Argos, and 
you in Lycia, whenever I shall come to the state of these. 
And let us shun striking each other with our spears even 
in the crowd. For there are indeed, many Trojans and 
famous auxiliaries for me to kill whomsoever god may 
offer, and I shall overtake with my feet ; and on the 
other hand there are many Achaeans, for you to 
slay whomsoever you are able : but let us exchange 
armour with each other, that these also may know, 
that we boast to be hereditary friends." When, 
forsooth, they had so said, leaping down from their horses, 
they caught the hands of one another, and mutually 
pledged their faith. Then truly, Jupiter son of Saturn 
took away the thoughts from Glaucus, who exchanged 



112 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



armour with Diomedes son of Tydeus, golden for brazen, 
those worth an hundred oxen for those worth nine oxen. 

Now as Hector approached the Scsean gates and the 
beech tree, the wives and daughters of the Trojans at 
once ran around him, inquiring about their sons, and 
brothers, and friends, and husbands : and he then ordered 
them all in order, to pray to the gods, forasmuch as woes 
were impending over many of them. But when now he had 
come to the very beautiful house of Priam, furnished with 
polished porticos : namely, in it were fifty bed-chambers 
of polished stone, built close to each other, where the 
sons of Priam slept along with their legitimate wives. 
And of his daughters, on the other side opposite within 
the court-yard, were twelve bed-chambers of polished 
stone under the same roof, having been built close to 
each other, where the sons-in-law of Priam slept along 
with their chaste wives. There his gentle mother came 
to meet him, on her way to Laodice, the most elegant of 
her daughters in appearance : and at once she grasped 
him with her hand, and spoke these words, and said : 
" Son, why hast thou come, having left the rugged battle ? 
Surely now, the detestable sons of the Achaeans, fighting 
around the city, soi'ely press you, and your soul has im- 
pelled you coming hither, to hold up your hands to Jupiter 
from the lofty citadel. But remain, until I shall bring 
thee sweet wine, that you may pour a libation to father 
Jupiter and the other immortals first, and afterwards be 
refreshed yourself, if you shall drink — for wine greatly 
increases strength to a man that is wearied — as you 
indeed are wearied, fighting in defence of thy friends." 

But the great crest-waving Hector then answered her : 
" Do not bring me pleasant wine, venerable mother, lest 
you enfeeble me, and I should be unmindful of strength 
and vigour. But I fear to pour out sparkling wine to 
Jupiter with unwashen hands : nor is it by any means 
lawful that one polluted with blood and gore should make 
vows to the cloud-darkening son of Saturn. But go thou 
at least to the temple of Minerva presiding over booty, 
with perfumes, having assembled the venerable matrons : 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



113 



and the robe which is the most elegant and the largest 
you have in the mansion, and much the most valuable 
to thyself, this place upon the knees of beautiful-haired 
Minerva ; and promise to her that you will sacrifice 
in the temple twelve heifers, yearlings, that have not 
felt the goad, if she will pity the city, and also the wives 
and infant children of the Trojans : if likewise, she will 
keep away from sacred Ilium, the son of Tydeus, that 
fierce warrior and powerful master of terror. But do 
you then proceed to the temple of Minerva the plunderer: 
but I will go after Paris, that I may call him, if he be 
willing to hear me speaking : that the earth would 
open for him there ; for the Olympian has nurtured him 
a great detriment to the Trojans, and to magnanimous 
Priam and his sons. If I could but see him going down 
into the house of Hades, methinks my mind would be 
forgetful of disagreeable sorrow." He so spake : but 
she proceeding to her mansion, gave orders to her 
waiting maids ; and they assembled the venerable 
matrons throughout the city. But she herself went 
down into her incensed marriage chamber, where she 
had robes figured with every device, the works of Sido- 
nian women, whom godlike Alexander himself brought 
from Sidon, when he sailed over the wide main, on that 
journey in which he led away Helen sprung from a noble 
father. Taking up one of these, Hecuba carried the gift 
to Minerva, which was the most beautiful in its devices, 
and the largest : and it shone as a star : but it lay the 
last of all the others : and she proceeded to go, and many 
venerable matrons hastened along with her. Now when 
they had come to the temple of Minerva in the summit 
of the city, the beautiful-cheeked Theano opened the 
doors for them, Cisseis, wife of horse-taming Antenor : 
for the Trojans had appointed her priestess to Minerva. 
And they, with uplifted voice, all held up their hands to 
Minerva : and beautiful-cheeked Theano, taking the robe 
forsooth, placed it upon the knees of beautiful-haired 
Minerva, and, vowing, prayed to the daughter of great 
Jupiter : " venerable Minerva, guardian of the city, of 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



goddesses divine ! break now, the spear of Diomedes, 
and grant also tliat he himself fall prone before the 
Scasan gates, in order that we may, this very instant, 
sacrifice to thee in the temple, twelve heifers, yearlings, 
that have not felt the goad, if thou wilt pity the city, and 
likewise the wives and infant children of the Trojans." 
She so spake, vowing : but Pallas Minerva rejected her 
petition. Thus they, indeed, were making vows to the 
daughter of great Jupiter : but Hector had gone to 
the beautiful mansion of Alexander, which he himself 
had built with the assistance of men who then were 
the best architects in very glebous Troy, who made 
for him a bed chamber, and a dining-room, and court- 
yard, near Priam's and Hector's, in the summit of the city. 
There Hector dear to Jupiter entered, and in his hand 
he held a spear of eleven cubits, and the brazen point of 
the spear glittered before him, and a golden ring ran 
around. And he found him in his bed-chamber attending 
to his very beautiful arms, handling his shield, and 
corslet, and curved bows. But Argive Helen was sitting, 
forsooth, amongst the female domestics, and ordering 
very remarkable works to her maid servants. But Hector, 
when he saw him, reproved him with bitter words : 
" Good sir, you do not indeed, befittingly lay up in thy 
mind this indignation. The forces are perishing, fighting 
around the city and lofty wall; and on account of thee 
both the battle and the war burn around this city : and 
thou wouldst reprimand even another, if you should see 
any one anywhere relaxing from the rigid battle : but up! 
lest, perhaps, the city be consumed with burning fire." 
But the god-like Alexander addressed him in reply : 
" Hector, since thou hast reproved me justly, and not 
beyond my desert; for this reason I will explain to thee: 
but do thou lend attention and hear me. It is not indeed, 
so much on account of the anger and indignation of the 
Trojans, that I sat in my bed-chamber, but I wished to 
turn myself aside unto sorrow. But now, my wife advis- 
ing me with soft words has impelled me to the war : and 
it appears to myself also that it will thus be better : victory 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



115 



indeed changes sides with men. But come now, wait until 
I put on my martial armour ; or go before, and I will 
follow : and I think that I shall overtake you." So he 
spake : but crest-waving Hector made him no reply. 
But Helen addressed him with pleasing words : u Brother- 
in-law of me the impudent cause of evils, abominable ! 
that on that day, when first my mother gave me birth, a 
pernicious storm of wind had gone carrying me away into 
a, mountain, or into the wave of the loud-roaring sea, 
where the wave had ingulphed me, before these deeds 
had come to pass. But since the gods have so ordained 
these evils, would, then, that I had been the wife of a. 
better man, who was sensible of the indignation and the 
many insults of men. But the mind of this man is neither 
steady now, nor will it be so hereafter : and for this reason 
I am of opinion he will reap the fruits of his own folly. 
But come now, enter in and sit down upon this seat, 
brother-in-law, since the labour has engrossed the 
thoughts of thee most especially, on account of me impu- 
dent, and on account of the offence of Alexander : on 
whom Jupiter has imposed an evil lot, that even here- 
after we shall become the subjects of song amongst 
the men of futurity." But the great crest-waving 
Hector then answered her : " Do not make me sit 
down, Helen, exceedingly courteous : nor shalt thou 
persuade me : for already my mind is incited in 
order that I may succour the Trojans, who have a very 
longing desire for me absent : but do thou urge on this 
man, and let him hasten himself also, that he may over- 
take me being within the city. For I will also go to 
my house, that I may see the household and my beloved 
wife and infant son : for I know not whether I shall ever 
come back to them again, or whether the gods may now 
subdue me under the hands of the Achaeans." Thus 
forsooth, having spoken, crest-waving Hector went off : 
and soon afterwards he arrived at his commodiously 
situated mansion : nor did he find the white-armed 
Andromache in the house, but she, together with her 
child and well-robed maid servant, was standing on the 



116 



THE ILIAD OF HOMEK. 



tower, wailing and lamenting. But Hector, as he did 
not find his blameless wife within, went and stood upon 
the threshold, and said among the maid servants : 
" Come, if you can, maid servants, tell me the truth, 
where has white-armed Andromache gone from the house? 
Is she gone to the house of any of her brothers-in-law, or 
well-robed sisters-in-law, or to Minerva's temple, where 
the other beautiful-haired Trojan matrons sedulously 
propitiate the dread divinity ?" But the sedulous house- 
keeper in turn replied to him with these words: "Hector, 
seeing that you charge me strictly to speak the truth, 
she is gone neither to any of her brothers-in-law, nor 
well-robed sisters-in-law, nor yet to Minerva's temple, 
where the other beautiful-haired Trojan matrons 
sedulously propitiate the dread divinity : but she has 
gone towards the great tower of Ilium, because she 
heard that the Trojans were hard pressed, and that the 
attack of the Achasans was violent. She has just gone 
away hastening to the wall, like unto one affected with 
madness, and the nurse is carrying the boy along with 
her/' So said the female housekeeper : and Hector 
hastened away from the house by the same way back, 
through the well-constructed streets. When he came 
to the Scaean gates, — passing through the great city — 
(for by this route he purposed to issue forth to the plain) 
— then his well-portioned wife came running to meet 
him, Andromache, daughter of the magnanimous Eetion. 
Eetion, who dwelt in Hypoplacian Thebes, under the 
woody Placus, ruling over the Cilician men, whose 
daughter, forsooth, was married to brazen-armed Hector : 
who then met him, and her maidservant accompanied 
her, having the tender boy in her bosom, an infant quite, 
Hector's only beloved one, like unto a beautiful star : 
Hector indeed called him Scamandrius, but the others 
Astyanax : for Hector alone defended Ilium. And 
indeed he smiled when he looked upon his son in 
silence : but Andromache stood near to him, shedding 
tears, and at once clung to him with her hand, and 
spake these words and said : " Revered husband, thine 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



own courage will destroy thee, nor dost thou pity both 
thine infant son and me destitute, who soon shall be 
thy widow : for the Achseans shall quickly destroy thee, 
all rushing upon thee together : but it were better for 
me, being bereft of thee, to enter under the ground : for 
no more shall I have any other consolation after you shall 
have met your fate, but sorrows : neither have I a father 
and venerable mother. For indeed, noble Achilles slew 
my father and demolished the commodiously situated city 
of the Cilicians, the lofty-gated Thebes. Nor did he spoil 
Eetion when he slew him ; for he had a religious fear of 
this in his soul, but he burned him down indeed, together 
with his well-wrought arms, and raised a tomb over him : 
but the mountain nymphs, daughters of ^Egis-bearing 
Jupiter, planted elms around. Besides, the seven brothers 
which I had in the house, these indeed, all went into the 
mansion of Hades in one day : for the swift-footed noble 
Achilles slew them all, amongst the crooked-footed oxen 
and white sheep. But my mother, who reigned under 
woody Placus, after he had brought her hither along with 
the other possessions, her he sent away again free, having 
received an infinite ransom : but arrow-rejoicing Diana 
struck her in my father's habitation. Hector, Still thou 
art to me a father and venerable mother, and brother, 
thou art also my blooming husband. But come now pity 
me, and remain here upon the tower, lest you make your 
son an orphan, and your wife a widow : but station the 
forces at the fig tree, where the city is most easy to be 
ascended, and the wall is most easily scaled. For thrice 
have the bravest come and assaulted it there, around the 
two Ajaxes and the very renowned Idomeneus, and around 
the sons of Atreus and the powerful son of Tydeus : 
whether some one well skilled in prophecy conveyed them 
the information, or whether even their own mind incited 
and prompted them." But the great crest-waving Hector 
in turn said unto her : " Certainly all these things are a 
concern to me also, woman : but very exceedingly do I 
fear the Trojans, and the Trojan women robed with a 
long train, in case that I should, by keeping apart, shun 



H 



118 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the war, as a coward ; neither does my spirit so order me, 
since I have learned to be always strenuous, and to fight 
amongst the foremost Trojans, vindicating the great 
glory of my father, and also of mine own self. For I 
well know this in my mind, and in my soul, the day 
shall sometime be, when sacred Ilium shall perish, 
and Priam and the people of Priam, well skilled 
in the ashen spear. But not fco such a degree is 
the future woe of the Trojans a subject of anxious 
thought to me, nor of Hecuba herself, nor of King 
Priam, nor of brothers, who both many and brave shall 
fall down in the dust under the men that are our foes, as 
is that of thee, when some one of the brazen-mailed 
Achseans shall carry you away crying, having taken away 
your day of freedom, : and, being in Argos, you shall 
weave a web for some other, and shall carry the water of 
the Messeis or Hyperea, much against your will, but 
hard necessity will lie upon you : and in time to come 
some one shall say, when he beholds you pouring down 
a tear, ' this is the wife of Hector, who was the most 
distinguished in battle of the horse-taming Trojans, 
when they fought around Ilium/ So shall some one say 
in time to come : but fresh grief will be yours, for want 
of such a man to ward off the servile day. But the 
heaped up earth shall cover me down dead, before that I 
shall hear in the least, thy cry, and the ravishment of 
thee.-" So saying, illustrious Hector extended his arms 
for his son, but the boy inclined back to the bosom of 
the well-girded nurse, shouting, being frightened at the 
aspect of his own dear father, fearing the brass and also 
the crest thickly set with horse hair, perceiving it 
nodding fearfully from the summit of the helmet : but 
his dear father and venerable mother gently laughed. 
Immediately illustrions Hector took the helmet from his 
head, and placed it down upon the ground, glittering on 
all sides : but when he kissed his dear son, and dandled 
him on his hands, praying to J upiter and also to the 
other gods, he said : " Jupiter, and ye other gods, 
grant now that this my son also may become very con- 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



119 



spicuous among the Trojans, even as I am, and thus 
powerful in strength, and that he may reign over Ilium 
powerfully : and some one in time to come may say, f he, 
truly, is much braver than his father/ when he beholds 
him returning from war, and he may bear away the 
bloody spoils, having slain the enemy, and his mother 
may heartily rejoice/'' So saying, he placed his son in 
the hands of his dear wife, and she indeed, received 
him in her fragrant bosom, smiling with a tear. But 
her husband, perceiving it, pitied her, and stroked 
her with his hand, and spoke these words and said : 
"Kind wife, do not by any means be excessively 
grieved in soul on account of me, for no one shall 
despatch me to Hades before my appointed time, 
and I think there is no man who shall escape his fate, 
neither the coward, nor yet the brave, after once he shall 
have been born. But, going to thy house, attend to 
thine own works, both the web and the distaff, and 
order the maid-servants to execute their duty : but 
the war shall be a concern to all the men who have 
been born in Ilium, and most especially to me." Thus 
forsooth, having spoken, illustrious Hector took up 
his hair-crested helmet ; but his beloved wife proceeded 
to her house, turning herself around, pouring down 
copious tears. And thence she quickly reached the finely 
situated mansion of man-slaying Hector, and found many 
maidservants within : and she excited mourning amongst 
them all. They, indeed, mourned the still living Hector 
in his own house : for they thought that he would no 
more come back again from the war, having escaped the 
strength and hands of the Achseans. Nor did Paris long 
delay in his lofty dwelling, but he, after he had put on 
his famous arms inwrought with brass, hastened thence 
through the city, relying on his nimble feet. And as 
when some stabled horse, fed on barley at the manger, 
having broken the chain, runs prancing through the plain, 
accustomed to be washed in a beautiful flowing river, 
exulting; and he holds his head aloft, and his mane flutters 
about his shoulders, whilst he relies on his own comeliness : 



120 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



and his knees carry him nimbly to the haunts and pastures 
of horses : so Paris son of Priam went down from lofty 
Pergamus exulting, all shining in armour, as the sun, and 
his swift feet carried him ; but instantly afterwards he 
reached his noble brother Hector, just as he was about 
to turn off from the place where he had conversed with 
his wife. The godlike Alexander first addressed him : 
"Honoured brother, surely now, I greatly detain you 
though hastening, tarrying long, neither have I come in 
good time, as you ordered." But crest-waving Hector 
said unto him in reply : " Good sir, no man, who should 
be a fair judge, would disparage your work of battle : 
for you are strenuous. But you are willingly remiss, and 
are not inclined to fight : and my heart is grieved in soul, 
when I hear reproaches respecting thee from the Trojans, 
who have much labour on account of thee. But let us 
proceed and we shall settle these things hereafter, 
if at any time Jupiter should grant, that we, having 
repelled the well-greaved Achasans from Troy may estab- 
lish the cup of freedom in our dwellings, in honour of 
the celestial, sempiternal gods." 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER, 

seventh" book. 



So saying the illustrious Hector issued forth from the 
gates, and along with him proceeded his brother Alex- 
ander, and indeed both were ardent in spirit to engage in 
the conflict of battle : and as the deity gives a favourable 
wind to sailors anxiously desiring it, after they are 
wearied agitating the sea with well polished oars, and 
their limbs are enfeebled with labour, so truly did they 
appear to the Trojans earnestly desiring them. Then 
they slew, the one indeed, the son of king Areithous, 
Menesthius dwelling in Arna, whom the club-bearing 
Areithous begat, and the ox-eyed Phylomedusabore : but 
Hector, with a sharp lance struck Eioneus in the neck 
under the brazen helmit, and relaxed his members. 
Moreover, Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, leader of the 
Lycian men, struck with a spear, in a hard conflict, 
Iphinous the son of Dexius in the shoulder, as he was 
mounting his swift steeds, and he fell from the steeds to 
the ground and his members were relaxed. But as soon 
as the azure-eyed goddess Minerva perceived these 
slaughtering the Argives in the hard conflict, she went 
down in haste from the summits of Olympus to sacred 
Ilium : and Apollo, having spied her from Pergamus, 
hastened to meet her, for he wished the victory to the 
Trojans. And they met one another at the beech tree. 
King Apollo, son of Jupiter, first addressed her : " Why 
hast thou, daughter of great Jupiter, again hastening, 
come from Olympus, seeing that a great spirit has im- 
pelled thee ? Is it that j^ou may give the doubtful victory 
of battle to the Greeks ? seeing that you by no means 



122 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



commisserate the perishing Trojans. But if you would 
comply with my suggestion, which would be far more 
advantageous, we would now stop the battle and conflict 
to day : but afterwards they shall fight, until they find 
an end of Ilium, since it is so pleasing to the mind of 
you goddesses, to overthrow this city." But the azure- 
eyed goddess Minerva said to him in reply: " Let it be so, 
far-darter, for I myself also, with the same intent, have 
come from Olympus to the Trojans and Achaeans : but 
come, how are you disposed to make the battle of the 
men to cease ?" And king Apollo, son of Jupiter, again 
replied to her : " Let us excite the bold spirit of horse- 
taming Hector, if perhaps he will challenge any one of 
the Greeks to fight singly against him in fierce battle : 
but the brazen-greaved Achaeans, being warmly indignant, 
would raise up some one to fight in single combat with 
noble Hector." He so spake : nor did the azure-eyed 
goddess Minerva disobey. But Helenus, the dear son of 
Priam, conceived in his mind the counsel of these, which, 
forsooth, was pleasing to the consulting deities ; and 
going near Hector, he stood, and addressed him with 
these words : " Hector, son of Priam, equal to Jupiter in 
counsel, would you comply with my suggestion ? for I am 
your brother. Cause the other Trojans and all the Achaeans 
to sit down : but do you yourself challenge whosoever is the 
bravest of the Achaeans to fight against you in fierce battle. 
For it is not yet your lot to die and meet your destiny : 
for so have I heard the voice of the everlasting gods." 
So he spake : but Hector on the other hand rejoiced 
greatly when he heard the words, and going into the middle 
he restrained the troops of the Trojans, grasping the middle 
of his spear : and they all sat down : and Agamemnon 
caused the well-greaved Achaeans to be seated. And 
likewise Minerva and the silver-bowed Apollo sat down, 
after the similitude of vultures, upon the lofty beech of 
iEgis-bearing father Jupiter, being delighted with the 
men : and the lines of these sat close, bristling with 
shields and helmets and spears. And as the ripple that is 
cast upon the deep by Zephyrus just arising, and the sea 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



123 



grows dark under it, such indeed did the lines both of the 
Achaeans and Trojans sit in the plain : but Hector said 
between both the parties : " Hear me, Trojans and well- 
greaved Achaeans, that I may speak what the soul in my 
breast orders me. The high-throned son of Saturn has 
not indeed ratified our treaties, but is wisely devising 
evils for both sides, until either you take well-turret ed 
Troy, or be yourselves vanquished at the sea-passing 
ships. Now seeing that there are with you the most 
distinguished men of all the Achaeans, let any one of 
these, whomsoever the spirit prompts to fight with me, 
now come hither out of all, to be the opponent of noble 
Hector. But I announce it in this manner, and let 
Jupiter be a further witness to us, if indeed he shall kill 
me with the long pointed sword, let him, having stripped 
off the armour, carry it to the hollow ships, but let him 
send my body home again, in order that the Trojans, 
and the wives of the Trojans, may make me, when dead, 
a partaker of fire. But if I shall kill him, and Apollo 
should grant me the victory, having stripped off the 
armour, I will carry it to sacred Ilium, and suspend it at 
the temple of far-darting Apollo : but the dead body I 
will send back to the well-benched ships, in order that 
the bushy-headed Achaeans may make him partaker of 
the rites of sepulture, and raise for him a tomb upon 
the wide Hellespont. And in time to come some one, 
even of the men of posterity, shall say, when sailing over 
the purple sea in a many benched ship, e This indeed is 
the tomb of a man long since deceased, whom formerly 
acting a most distinguished part, the illustrious Hector 
slew/ Thus in time to come shall some one say : but 
my glory shall never perish." He so spake : but they 
all at once became mute in silence : they dreaded the 
shame of declining the challenge, yet feared to accept it. 
At length Menelaus stood up, and said amongst them 
with chiding rebuke, and deeply groaned in spirit : 
" Alas ! boasters, Achaean women, no longer Achaean 
men, surely this will be an exceedingly sad disgrace, 
if no one of the Greeks shall now go to meet Hector. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



But you indeed are all become water and earth, sitting 
there each of you heartless, inglorious alike. Now I 
myself will put on arms against him : but the issues 
of the victory are in the hands of the immortal gods 
above." Having so said, he put on his beautiful armour. 
Then indeed, an end of life would have appeared to 
thee, Menelaus, by the hands of Hector, seeing he 
was much braver, had not the kings of the Achaeans, 
rising up in haste, taken hold of thee : and the son of 
Atreus himself, the far ruling Agamemnon, took him by 
the right hand, and spoke these words and said : " You 
are mad, noble born Menelaus, such madness as this 
ill becomes you : but restrain yourself, grieved though 
you be, and be not willing, out of mere desire of con- 
tention, to fight with a man superior to thee, Hector 
son of Priam, whom others also awfully fear : and even 
Achilles, who is by far superior to thee, dreaded to meet 
this man in the glorious battle. But do thou indeed 
now sit down, going among the company of your com- 
panions, and the Achaeans will raise up another combatant 
for him. However dauntless he may be, and though he 
be insatiable of toil, methinks, he will fondly bend his 
knee, in case he should escape from the hot battle and 
severe conflict." 

So saying, the hero prevailed on his brother's thoughts, 
advising him aright : and he obeyed ; forthwith then, 
his attendants, rejoicing, took the armour from his 
shoulders. But Nestor stood up among the Argives and 
said : " gods, surely great mourning is coming on the 
Achaean land. Surely the old horseman Peleus would 
greatly lament, that distinguished counsellor and orator 
of the Myrmidons, who, once interrogating me, greatly 
rejoiced in his own house, inquiring after the race and 
progeny of all the Greeks, if he should now hear of all 
these trembling through fear of Hector : oft indeed, 
would he lift up his own hands to the immortals/ that 
the soul from his members might descend into the man- 
sion of Hades. Would to father Jupiter, and Minerva, 
and Apollo, I were young, as when the assembled Pylians 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



125 



and spear-practiced Arcadians fought at tlie swift-flowing 
Celadon, near the walls of Phea, about the streams of 
Jardanus. But among the latter Ereuthalion stood up 
as champion, a man equal to a god, having on his 
shoulders the armour of King Areithous, the noble 
Areithous, whom men and beautiful waisted women 
commonly called the club-bearer, because he fought not 
with bows and the long spear ; but with an iron club he 
used to break the ranks. Him Lycurgus slew by strata- 
gem, by no means by force indeed, in a narrow way, 
where his iron club was not sufficient to ward off de- 
struction from him : for Lycurgus by anticipation, first 
pierced him in the middle with his spear, and he was 
dashed to the ground upon his back : and he spoiled 
him when slain of the armour which brazen Mars had 
given him : and this indeed he himself afterwards wore 
in the conflict of Mars. But when Lycurgus became 
old in his habitation, he gave it to Ereuthalion, his dear 
attendant, to be worn. He, having his armour, challenged 
all the bravest. But they exceedingly trembled and 
feared, nor had any one the courage. However, my 
daring spirit, through its own ardour, impelled me to 
fight, though I was the youngest of all : and I fought 
with him, and Minerva gave me the victory. This most 
tall and powerful man indeed I slew : for vast in bulk he 
lay stretched out on this side and on that. that I 
were now so young, and my strength were unimpaired : 
in that case crest-waving Hector would quickly have one 
to meet him in battle. But those of you who are the 
chiefs of all the Aehasans, not even ye are promptly 
prepared to go to meet Hector." Thus the old man 
chid them : but they, nine in all, rose up. By far the 
soonest indeed arose Agamemnon king of men : and after 
him arose the son of Tydeus, brave Diomedes : and after 
them the Ajaxes, clothed with vigorous strength : and 
after them Idomeneus, and Meriones, the companion of 
Idomeneus, a match for man-slaying Mars: and after them 
Eurypylus, the renowned son of Evaamon : likewise Thoas, 
the son of Andrgemon, arose, and noble Ulysses. All these, 



126 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



forsooth, were willing to fight with noble Hector. And 
again the Gerenian horseman Nestor spake among them : 
" Determine now entirely by lot, whose lot it shall be: for 
the same truly shall confer a boon upon the well-greaved 
Achaeans, and he will also benefit his own soul, should he 
escape from the hot battle, and grievous conflict." He 
so spake : but they marked each one his lot, and cast 
them into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus. And 
the forces prayed, and held up their hands to the gods : 
and in this manner did each one say, looking to the wide 
heaven Father Jupiter, grant that the lot fall on either 
Ajax, or the son of Tydeus or the king himself of very 
wealthy Mycene." So they spake : but the Gerenian 
horseman Nestor shook the lots, and the lot of Ajax 
leaped out of the helmet, which, forsooth, they themselves 
wished : but the herald carrying it through the company 
everywhere, showed it, commencing on the right, to all 
the chiefs of the Achasans. But they, each of them, 
disclaimed knowledge of it. But when now he came to 
him, carrying it through the company everywhere, illus- 
trious Ajax, who, having superscribed it, cast it into the 
helmet, at once held under his hand, and he standing 
near put it in : and when he saw the mark of the lot, he 
knew it, and rejoiced in his soul. It indeed he cast at his 
own foot on the ground, and said : " friends, the lot 
indeed is mine : and I rejoice myself too, in my soul : since 
I am persuaded that I shall overcome noble Hector : but 
come, whilst I am putting on warlike-arms, meanwhile 
do ye pray to king Jupiter son of Saturn, in silence 
with yourselves, that the Trojans at least may not 
hear, or even openly, since we are afraid of none at all. 
For no one however inclined shall overcome me against 
my will, either by force on his part or inexperience on 
mine : since I hope that I have been both born and bred 
in Salamis, not quite so simple." He so spake : but 
they prayed to King Jupiter son of Saturn. And thus 
did each one say, looking to the wide heaven : " Father 
Jupiter, ruling from Ida, most glorious, most mighty, 
give the victory to Ajax, and that he bear away dis- 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



127 



tinguished glory : but if thou mlly lovest Hector too, 
and art concerned for him, cause equal strength and 
glory to accompany both." They so spake : but Ajax 
armed himself with shining brass : and after he had put 
all his armour around his body, he hastened forward : 
and as gigantic Mars marches on, who proceeds to war 
among men whom the son of Saturn has committed to 
engage with the force of soul-destroying contention, such 
truly did mighty Ajax move on, the bulwark of the 
Achaeans, smiling with grim countenance : but he went 
on his feet beneath, taking long steps, brandishing a 
long shadow-casting spear. And indeed the Argives 
rejoiced greatly, when they beheld him. But sad tremb- 
ling entered into the limbs of each of the Trojans, and 
the spirit palpitated in the breast of Hector himself : but 
by no means was it yet in his power to retract through 
fear, nor retire back into the crowd of forces, since he 
had challenged to the contest. And Ajax came near, 
carrying a shield like a tower, brazen, covered with seven 
ox hides, which Tychius, by far the best of hide-cutters, 
inhabiting a house in Hyla, elaborately wrought for him : 
who made for him a flexible shield, having seven plies of 
the hides of well-fed oxen, and he drew over it an eighth 
one of brass. Bearing this before his breast, Telamonian 
Ajax stood very near Hector, and in a threatening tone 
addressed him . " Hector, now certainly you shall mani- 
festly know in single combat, what kind of chiefs are 
amongst the Greeks, even besides the rank-breaking, 
lion-spirited Achilles. But he indeed lies at the curved 
sea-passing ships, cherishing anger against Agamemnon, 
shepherd of the people. We, however, are such as shall 
be able to meet thee, and many too : but commence the 
battle and conflict." 

But the great helmit-waving Hector replied to him in 
turn : 66 Ajax of noble race, son of Telamon, prince of 
people, tamper not with me, as with a weak boy or 
woman, who is unacquainted with warlike accomplish- 
ments. But I well understand both fighting and man 
killing : I am expert in moving my dry shield upon the 



128 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



right hand, as well as upon the left, which enables me to 
sustain a combat for a long time without fatigue : and I 
am skilled in a standing fight to compose my steps to the 
sounds of fierce Mars : I am practised likewise in the labour 
of attacking upon swift steeds. However, I do not wish to 
strike thee, being such, observing thee secretly, but 
openly, if I can hit thee." He thus said, and brandishing 
sent forth a long shadow-casting spear, and struck the 
tremendous sevenfold shield of Ajax, on the outermost 
one of brass, which was the eighth upon the same. And 
the hard brass penetrated, cutting its way through six 
folds, and was fastened in the seventh skin. Second in 
turn most noble Ajax sent forth a long shadow-casting 
spear, and struck the accurately-rounded shield of the 
son of Priam ; the impetuous lance penetrated indeed 
through the shining shield, and was driven through the 
much wrought corslet, and the point cut its way quite 
through the coat near his bowels : but he was inclined, 
and escaped sable fate. They then having drawn out 
long swords, both engaged hand to hand together, similar 
to ravenous lions, or boars, whose strength indeed is by 
no means weak. The son of Priam indeed then struck 
the middle of his shield with a spear : nor did he rend 
the brass, but the point was bent back to him. And 
Ajax making a bound pierced his shield, and the lance 
went quite through, and repelled him rushing on, and 
with a slight incision glanced over his neck, and black 
blood came spouting out. But not even so did the helmet- 
waving Hector cease from the battle, but retiring back 
he caught a stone with robust hand, lying on the plain, 
black, and rough, and great : with it he struck the 
tremendous sevenfold shield of Ajax upon the middle of 
the boss, and indeed the brass sounded around. Second 
in turn, Ajax, lifting up a much greater stone, threw it 
with a whirling cast, and applied immense force : and 
he smashed the shield, having struck it with a stone 
like that of a mill, and he injured his own knees : but 
the other was extended upon his back, having come 
into violent contact with his shield : but Apollo quickly 



THE ILIAD OE HOMEK. 



129 



raised him up. And now indeed with swords in hand 
they would have wounded each other, had not heralds, 
the messengers of Jupiter and of men, interposed, one 
belonging to the Trojans, and the other to the brazen - 
mailed Achaaans, Talthybius and also Idaeus, both of 
them prudent. And they held their sceptres between 
both parties : and the herald Idaaus, skilled in wise 
counsels, spake these words : " No longer contend, dear 
sons, nor fight : for cloud-collecting Jupiter loves you 
both, and ye both are brave warriors, which indeed we 
all know too. But the night is now at hand, and it is 
good to give way to night." But the Telamonian 
Ajax addressed him in reply : " Idasus, order Hector 
to speak these things : for he himself challenged all the 
chiefs to battle. Let him begin, and I will readily 
accede to whatever he proposes." But the great 
helmet-waving Hector in turn said unto him : " Ajax, 
since God has given you magnitude, and strength also, 
and skill, and thou art by far the bravest of the Achaeans 
with the spear, let us now cease from battle and con- 
flict to-day : hereafter we shall fight until fate decide 
between us, and give the victory to one or other : but the 
night is now at hand, and it is good to give way to night : 
that you also may gladden all the Achaeans at the ships, 
and especially thy friends and companions whom you 
have : whilst I, throughout the great city of King Priam, 
will gladden the Trojan men and long-robed Trojan women 
who are entering the deities temple praying for me. But 
come, let us both give distinguished presents to each 
other, in order that any one of the Achaeans and Trojans 
may thus say, ' truly they fought through soul-destroying 
contention, and again, being reconciled, they parted in 
friendship." Having so said, he gave him a silver- 
mounted cutlass, offering it together with the scabbard, 
and a well-cut belt : but Ajax gave a girdle shining with 
purple colour. They then having separated, the one went 
to the people of the Achaeans, and the other proceeded to 
the crowd of the Trojans : and they rejoieed as they saw 
him approaching both living and safe, having escaped the 



130 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



strength and invincible hands of Ajax : and they brought 
him to the city, despairing that he was safe. But on the 
other hand, the well-greaved Achaeans brought Ajax to 
noble Agamemnon, exulting in victory. And when they 
were now in the tents of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon 
king of men, on their account, sacrificed a bull, five years 
old, to the all-powerful son of Saturn. They flayed it 
and trimmed it around, and made divisions of the whole, 
and then cut them into small portions very skilfully, and 
fixed them on spits, and they roasted them quite well, 
and drew them all off. But when they had ceased from 
the labour, and had prepared a banquet, they feasted, nor 
did their soul in anywise lack an adequate feast : but the 
hero, son of Atreus, far-ruling Agamemnon, honoured 
Ajax with perpetual pieces of the back. And after they 
had taken away the desire of eating and drinking, the 
old man Nestor, whose counsel appeared best even from 
the first, began first of all to weave counsel among them : 
who prudently harangued among them and said : " Son 
of Atreus, and also ye other chiefs of all the Achaeans, 
seeing that many hair-crested Achaeans have died, whose 
black blood keen Mars has now diffused about the beauti- 
ful-flowing Scamander : it is therefore your duty to cause 
a cessation of the battle by the early dawn, and we our- 
selves, being assembled, shall carry hither in carriages 
the dead bodies, with oxen and mules: and burn them down 
before the ships at a little distance from them, that each 
individual may carry home bones to his children, whenever 
we return to our native land : and let us, going forth, rear 
about the pile one common mound on the outside of the 
plain, and build near it quickly a lofty rampart, a defence 
both of the ships and of ourselves : and in it let us make 
a firmly compacted gate, in order that there may be a 
way for the chariots to pass through it : and let us sink 
near it a deep trench on the outside, which, enclosing them 
around, may protect both the horses and men, lest at any 
time the battle of the proud Trojans may press sorely." 
He so said, and all the kings at once assented. An 
assembly of the Trojans likewise was held in the highest 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



131 



of the city of Ilium, panic- struck, turbulent, near to 
Priam's doors : and prudent Antenor began to harangue 
amongst them : u Hear me, Trojans, Dardans, and Aux- 
iliaries, that I may speak the sentiments which the soul 
in my breast advises me. Come then, let us give up the 
Argive Helen, and the effects along with her, to the sons 
of Atreus to take away, for now we prosecute the war, 
having violated the plighted treaties : therefore I have no 
hope that anything better will be effected by us, unless 
we shall act thus." He, indeed, so saying, sat down : 
but noble Alexander, husband of the beautiful-haired 
Helen, stood up among them : who in reply addressed 
him with winged words : u Antenor, you make this 
harangue by no means pleasing to me. You know also 
how to suggest a better advice than this. But if you 
propose this really, and in earnest, then assuredly have 
the gods themselves destroyed your understanding. But 
I will speak my sentiments among the horse-taming 
Trojans : and I entirely refuse : I will not indeed give 
up the woman : but as to the effects, as much as I brought 
to our house from Argos, I am willing to restore them 
all, and to add even others of my own." Even so saying, 
he sat down : and the Dardan Priam, a counsellor equal 
to a god, stood up among them, who prudently harangued 
among them and said : " Hear me, Trojans and Dardans, 
and Auxiliaries, in order that I may speak the sentiments 
of my breast. Now take supper throughout the city, as 
heretofore, and be mindful of the guard, and watch each 
of you, and in the morning let Idaeus go to the hollow 
ships to tell to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Mene- 
laus, the sentiment of Alexander, on account of whom 
the contention has arisen, and also to add this prudent 
suggestion, whether they would be willing to cause a 
cessation of the loud-sounding battle, until we shall burn 
the dead bodies : afterwards we shall fight again, until 
fate decide between us, and give the victory to one or 
other." He so spake : and they heard him very atten- 
tively, and obeyed. Then they took supper through the 
city in companies : and in the morning Idaeus proceeded 



132 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



to the hollow ships. And he found the Greeks, servants 
of Mars, in an assembly at the stern of Agamemnon's 
ship. But th6 shrill herald, standing in the midst of them, 
sent forth his voice : " Ye sons of Atreus, and also ye 
other chiefs of all the Achaeans, both Priam and the other 
illustrious Trojans ordered me to speak — if it be pleasing 
and agreeable to you, — the sentiments of Alexander on 
whose account the contention has arisen. The effects in- 
deed, as many as Alexander brought in his hollow ships to 
Troy (0 that he had sooner perished,) he is willing to give 
up all, and to add others of his own besides : but he says that 
ho will not restore the young spouse of glorious Menelaus, 
though the Trojans indeed advise him. Moreover, they 
also ordered me to mention this suggestion, whether ye 
would be willing to cause a cessation of the loud-sounding 
battle, until we shall have burnt the dead : afterwards we 
shall fight again, until fate decide between us, and give 
the victory to one or other." He so spake : but they all 
became mute in silence : and at last the brave Diomedes 
spoke among them : " Let not any one now receive either 
the effects of Alexander, or even Helen herself ■ for even 
a fool may perceive, that now final destruction impends 
over the Trojans." So he spake, and all the sons of the 
Achaeans at once shouted in acclaim, having admired the 
speech of the horse-taming Diomedes. And then, for- 
sooth, king Agamemnon addressed Idaeus : " Idaeus, you 
yourself just now hear the sentiments of the Achaeans, 
how they answer you, and it is thus pleasing to me 
likewise. But with respect to the dead, I grudge them 
not the rites of sepulture : for in the case of the defunct, 
there exists no parsimony, after they are dead, to prevent 
the speedy discharge of the last grateful offices. But let 
Jupiter, the loud-sounding husband of Juno, be witness 
of the treaty." So saying, he held up his sceptre to 
all the gods. But Idaeus went back again to sacred 
Ilium : and the Trojans and Dardans were sitting in an 
assembly, all gathered together, waiting the time when 
Idaeus should return : but he soon arrived and an- 
nounced the message, standing in the midst ; and they 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 133 

prepared themselves very quickly for the double office, 
some to carry the dead bodies, and others to go after 
wood. The Arrives likewise on the other hand hastened 
from the well-benched ships, some to carry the dead, and 
others to go after wood. The sun, ascending the heaven 
from the gently-flowing, deep-running ocean, had then 
recently flung his radiance over the land, when they met 
each other. Then it was difficult to distinguish each man 
among the dead : but washing off the bloody gore with 
water, shedding warm tears, they lifted them upon 
wains. Nor did the great Priam suffer them to weep : 
but they in silence placed the dead bodies in a heap 
upon the funeral pile, sorrowing in heart. And when 
they had burned them with fire, they returned to sacred 
Ilium. And so likewise on the other hand did the well- 
greaved Achaean s heap together the dead bodies upon 
the pile, sorrowing in heart : and having burnt them with 
fire, they returned to the hollow ships. But when it was 
not yet morning, and it was yet twilight, then a select 
company of the Achaeans around the pile arose, and pro- 
ceeding forth, they made around it one common mound 
on the outside of the plain, and built a wall near it, and 
a lofty rampart, as a defence both of the ships and of 
themselves. And they made in the same a well compacted 
gate, in order that there might be a way for the chariots 
to pass through it; moreover they sunk near it a deep 
trench, wide and great, and fixed down stakes in it : so in- 
deed the hair-crested Achaeans laboured. But the gods, 
sitting beside the thunder-hurling Jove, beheld with as- 
tonishment the great work of the brazen-mailed Achaeans, 
and earth-shaking Neptune began to speak among them r 
" Father Jupiter ! is there any one of the mortals over the 
boundless earth, who will intimate any more his intention, 
and design to the immortals? Seest thou not, how the hair- 
crested Achaeans have again built a wall before the ships,, 
and have drawn a trench around it, neither have they 
given renowned hecatombs to the gods ! The glory of it 
shall be indeed, as far as the morning light is diffused : 
but they shall forget that which I and Phoebus Apollo. 



i 



134 THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 

have built around the city for the hero Laomedon, with 
hard labour." But cloud-collecting Jupiter, being greatly 
troubled, said unto him : " Alas ! widely-prevailing 
shaker of the earth, what is this you have said ? Some 
other of the gods, might entertain this fearful apprehen- 
sion, who is much weaker than you, both in hands and 
strength : but thy glory shall certainly be as far as the 
morning light is diffused. Go then, whenever the hair- 
crested Achaeans shall return with their ships to their 
dear native country, having overthrown the wall, cast it 
all down into the sea, and cover again the great shore 
with sand, that even so the great wall of the Achaeans 
may be entirely effaced." 

Thus they conversed such things with one another : 
but the sun set, and the work of the Achaeans was 
finished. And they slaughtered oxen throughout the 
tents, and took supper. And many ships were present 
from Lemnus, carrying wine, which Euneus, the son of 
Jason, had despatched, whom Hypsipyle brought forth 
by Jason shepherd of the people. And separately for 
the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the son 
of Jason gave a s thousand measures of sweet wine to be 
carried away. Then, forsooth, the hair-crested Achaeans 
purchased wine, some indeed with brass, and some with 
shining iron, and some with skins, and some with very 
oxen, some too with slaves : and they prepared a 
delicious feast. Then indeed the hair-crested Achaeans 
feasted the whole night : the Trojans and auxiliaries did 
likewise throughout the city. And all the night did 
Jupiter, sage in counsel, portend evils to them, thunder- 
ing fearfully : and pale fear seized them. And they 
poured wine from the cups upon the ground : nor did 
any one dare to drink before he had poured out a libation 
to the omnipotent son of Saturn. At length they retired 
to rest, and enjoyed the gift of sleep. 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 
EIGHTH BOOK. 



The saffron-mantled morn was spread indeed over all the 
land, and thnnder- delighting Jupiter held an assembly 
of the gods in the highest summit of the many-peaked 
Olympus : and he himself harangued amongst them, 
whilst all the gods gave diligent attention : " Hear me, 
all ye gods, and likewise all ye goddesses, that I may 
speak the sentiments which the soul in my breast orders 
me. Neither, then, let any female divinity, nor any male, 
attempt to rescind this my word ; but all of you at once 
assent, in order that as soon as possible I may bring 
these things to a conclusion. But whomsoever I shall 
perceive going apart from the gods, desiring to assist 
either the Trojans or the Greeks, he shall come wounded 
to Olympus without any decorum : or seizing, I will 
fling him into obscure Tartarus, very far where there is 
a most profound gulph under the earth, and where are 
iron gates and a brazen pavement, so far beneath Hades 
as heaven is from the earth : he shall know then, how much 
I am the most powerful of all the gods. But if — come, 
make a trial, ye gods, that ye may all know : having 
suspended a golden chain from heaven, hang from it all 
ye gods, and all ye goddesses, yet you would not be able 
to draw down from heaven to earth Jupiter the counsellor 
supreme, not even though you should toil with very 
much labour. But when at length I also should be dis- 
posed in mind to draw you up, I could draw you up with, 
the earth itself, and the sea itself, and then bind the 
chain around the top of Olympus, whilst these would all 
be suspended aloft : so far am I above the gods and 



136 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



likewise above men." So lie spake : but they all became 
mute in silence, admiring the speech, for he harangued 
very menacingly. But at length the azure-eyed goddess 
Minerva spoke among them : " our father, son of Saturn, 
supreme of kings, we, too, well know that thy strength 
is invincible : but we entirely pity the Grecian spears- 
men who are now perishing, having filled up the measure 
of an adverse destiny : but yet we shall abstain from the 
war, as you order, and shall only suggest to the Argives 
such counsel as may serve them, that they may not all 
perish by reason of thine anger." But cloud-collecting* 
Jupiter, smiling, said unto her : " Be of good cheer, 
Tritonia, dear daughter, I speak not now in absolute 
earnest, but I wish to be meek towards thee." So 
saying, he joined under his chariot his brazen-footed, 
swift-flying steeds, having flowing golden manes. And 
he himself put on gold around his body, and took a 
golden, well made wiiip, and mounted his own seat, and 
lashed them to go on : and they, not unwillingly, flew 
mid- way between the earth and starry heaven. And he 
came to Ida having many fountains, the mother of sheep, 
to Gargarus where he had consecrated ground and an 
incensed altar. There the father both of men and gods 
stopped his horses, loosing them from the vehicle, and 
spread a dense mist around them. But he himself sat 
down on the summits, exulting in glory, inspecting both 
the city of the Trojans and the ships of the Achaeans. 

Meanwhile the bushy-headed Achasans took supper 
speedily through the tents, and that finished, they armed 
themselves. But the Trojans, on the other hand, were 
armed through the city, fewer in number; yet even so, 
they were eager to engage in conflict, through pressing 
necessity, in behalf of their children and wives. And the 
gates were opened wide, and the forces rushed out, both 
infantry and cavalry, and a great tumult arose. But they, 
when now they had come meeting in one place, dashed 
their shields together, and their spears, and the strength 
of brazen- mailed men : and whilst the bossy bucklers 
approached one another a great din was excited : and 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



137 



then at the same time happened both the groaning and 
boasting of men, slaying and being slain : and the earth 
flowed with blood. As long as the forenoon lasted, and 
the sacred day was in progress, so long did the weapons 
touch both sides effectively, and the forces fell : but when 
the sun had compassed the mid circuit of heaven, even 
then at length the father stretched his golden scales, and 
placed in them the two destinies of long slumber- causing 
death, both of the horse-taming Trojans, and the brazen- 
mailed Greeks : and holding them by the middle he drew 
them up, and the fatal day of the Achaeans inclined : 
indeed the fates of the Achseans settled down upon the 
many-nourishing earth, whilst those of the Trojans were 
raised aloft to the spacious heaven. And he himself 
thundered aloud from Ida, and sent burning lightning 
amongst the forces of the Achseans : but they, seeing it, 
were amazed, and pale fear seized them all. Then neither 
Idomeneus ventured to remain, nor Agamemnon, neither 
did the two Ajaxes, attendants of Mars, remain. But 
the Gerenian Nestor, guardian of the Achaeans, alone 
remained, not of his own accord, but his horse had been 
wounded, which noble Alexander, the husband of beautiful- 
haired Helen, struck with an arrow on the highest top 
where the first hairs grow over the horses skull, and it is 
a most fatal spot. And smarting with pain he reared up, 
and the dart entered the brain, and he threw the other 
horses into confusion, rolling himself about the steel. 
Whilst the old man was cutting away the horse's side 
rein in haste with a knife, in the meantime the swift-steeds 
of Hector came through the flying pursuit, carrying their 
bold charioteer Hector : and then indeed the old man 
w r ould have lost his life, had not the brave Diomedes 
quickly perceived it : and he shouted tremendously, 
inciting Ulysses : " noble-born son of Laertes, very 
wily Ulysses, whither dost thou fly, turning your back 
like a coward in the throng ? Beware, lest some one may 
fasten a spear in your back as you are flying. But remain, 
in order that we may drive away this fierce man from the 
old man/' He so spake : but the patient noble Ulysses 



138 



THE ILIAD OP HOMER. 



did not hear him, but rushed by towards the hollow ships 
of the Greeks. And the son of Tydeus, although he was 
by himself, was mixed with the foremost fighters, and 
stood before the horses of the old son of Neleus, and 
addressing him, spake winged words: "0 old man, surely 
now the young warriors sorely press thee, but thy strength 
is enfeebled, and bitter old age accompanies thee: moreover, 
thy attendant is exhausted, and thy horses slow. But 
come, ascend my chariot that you may see what kind are 
the horses of Tros, skilled in very rapidly pursuing and 
retreating hither and thither through the plain, which 
lately I took from iEneas, masters of flight. Let our 
attendants then take charge of those, but let us direct 
these against the horse-taming Trojans, that Hector too 
may know whether my spear also rages in my hands." 
He so spake : nor did the Gerenian horseman Nestor 
disobey. Forthwith indeed the brave attendants, Sthe- 
nelus and generous Eurymedon took charge of Nestor's 
horses, whilst these both mounted the chariot of Diomedes: 
and Nestor took the purple reins in his hands, and 
whipped the horses, and soon they became near to 
Hector. And the son of Tydeus hurled at him rushing 
straight forward : and him indeed he missed, but his 
attendant charioteer Eniopeus, son of magnanimous 
Thebseus, he struck in the breast at the pap, as he held 
the reins of the horses : and he fell down from the 
chariot, and his swift-footed steeds recoiled in fright : 
and his soul and strength were dissolved there. And 
sad grief overshadowed the mind of Hector on account 
of his charioteer ; yet he then suffered him to lie there, 
although grieving for his companion, and he went in 
search of a brave charioteer : nor were his horses any 
longer in want of a ruler : for he instantly found the 
valiant Archeptolemus, son of Iphitis, whom then he 
caused to mount the swift-footed horses, and he gave 
the reins into his hands. Then would there have been 
destruction and terrible deeds would have been done : 
and they would have been pent up in Ilium, as lambs, 
had not the father of men and gods quickly perceived it : 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



139 



and thundering dreadfully, he sent forth a white-flashing 
thunderbolt, and cast it down on the ground before the 
horses of Dioniedes, and there rose up a dreadful flame 
of the burning sulphur : and the horses being affrighted, 
reared up under the chariot, and the admirable reins 
escaped from the hands of Nestor : and he feared in soul, 
and addressed Diomedes : Son of Tydeus, come now, 
direct your whole-hoofed steeds to flight : knowest thou 
not that aid from Jupiter does not follow thee ? For 
now indeed Saturnian Jupiter vouchsafes the glory to 
this man to-day, but hereafter he will give it to us also, 
should he be so pleased, since no man, not even the 
mightiest, can in any wise impede the purpose of Jupiter, 
seeing that he is by far the most powerful." But the 
brave Diomedes then answered him : " Yea, indeed, old 
man, you have said all these things correctly : but such 
sad grief comes over my heart and soul : for Hector will 
in future say, haranguing among the Trojans, ' The son 
of Tydeus, being put to flight by me, went off to the 
ships/ Thus will he at some time boast : then may 
the broad earth open for me." But the Gerenian horse- 
man Nestor then answered him : " Alas ! son of warlike 
Tydeus, what have you said ! For although Hector 
should call you a coward and a good-for-nothing, yet the 
Trojans and Dardanians will not believe it, and the wives 
of the magnanimous shielded Trojans, whose blooming 
husbands you have tumbled in the dust." Having so 
said, he turned the whole-hoofed horses into flight, back 
among the crowd of those flying, whilst the Trojans and 
Hector, with immense clamour, poured after them their 
destructive darts. And the great helmet-waving Hector 
shouted after him aloud : " Son of Tydeus, the swift- 
horsed Danai indeed honoured you above others both 
ivith a seat, and with flesh, and also with full cups ; but 
now they will despise you, so like a woman hast thou 
become. Go to destruction, dastardly girl, since you 
shall not, whilst I yield to you, ascend our towers, nor 
carry away our women in ships : sooner shall I give you 
an evil destiny." So he spake : but the son of Tydeus 



140 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



anxiously deliberated two ways, both to turn round his 
horses, and to fight against him. Thrice indeed he 
deliberated in his mind and soul : thrice too the sage 
Jupiter thundered from the Idsean mountains, giving a 
sign to the Trojans, that the victory of the battle was 
changed : aud Hector encouraged the Trojans, shouting 
aloud : " Trojans, and Lycians, and close fighting 
Dardans ! be men my friends, and be mindful of vigorous 
strength. I know for certain that the son of Saturn has 
with purpose of mind assented to me the victory and 
great glory, but destruction to the Greeks. Foolish 
men ! who just now have constructed these w T alls, weak, 
of no account, which shall not obstruct my strength, 
seeing that my horses will easily leap over the sunk 
trench. But when presently I shall have come to the 
hollow ships, then let there be some remembrance of 
consuming fire, that I may burn the ships with fire, and 
kill the Greeks themselves also among the ships, con- 
founded in the smoke So saying, he encouraged his 
horses, and said : u Xanthus, and likewise thou Podargus, 
and ^Ethon, and noble Lampus, now repay me for the 
very attentive care which Andromache, daughter of 
magnanimous Eetion, bestowed on you, the sweet wheat 
she placed before you, having also mixed wine to drink 
when desire prompted, sooner than she did to me who 
boast to be her blooming husband. But pursue and 
hasten, that we may seize the shield of Nestor, the fame 
of which now reaches the sky, that it is all golden, both 
the handles and itself : likewise from off the shoulders 
of horse-taming Diomedes the well-wrought corslet which 
Vulcan elaborately made. If we could take possession 
of these, we might hope indeed that the Achseans this 
very night would embark in their swift ships. " He so 
spake, boasting: but venerable Juno was indignant; 
and she shook herself on the throne, and made lofty 
Olympus to tremble : and thus addressed the great deity 
Neptune in his presence : " Alas ! wide-prevailing shaker 
of the earth, does not the soul in the breast of thee at least 
commiserate the perishing Greeks ? who yet carry up for 



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thee both to Helice and to iEgse many and graceful gifts : 
do thou, then, will to them the victory. For if we should be 
inclined, as many of us as are in aid of the Greeks, to repel 
the Trojans and restrain the far-seeing Jupiter, he might 
then indulge his moody passion, sitting there alone in Ida." 
But King Neptune, being highly indignant, said unto her : 
"0 rash-speaking Juno, what sort of language is this 
you have uttered ? I, at least, would not be inclined 
that we the others should fight with Saturnian Jupiter, 
seeing that he is by far the more powerful." Thus they, 
indeed, were talking such things as these to one another. 
But with these, the whole space which the trench included 
from the ships away from the rampart was filled alike 
both with horses and shielded men, rolled together : for 
Hector son of Priam, a match for swift Mars, had forced 
them together when Jupiter gave him the glory : and 
now would he have burnt the well-proportioned ships 
with consuming fire, had not the venerable Juno put it 
into the thoughts of Agamemnon, acting busily himself, 
to arouse the Achseans spetsdily. And he proceeded to 
go along the tents and ships of the Achseans, holding a 
large purple robe in his thick hand : andthe stood at the 
very large black ship of Ulysses which was in the middle, 
so that his voice might be heard on either side, both at 
the tents of Telamonian Ajax, and at those of Achilles, 
who had drawn up their well-proportioned ships in the 
extreme parts, relying on their valour andthe strength 
of their hands : and he shouted piercingly, calling to the 
Danai : " Shame, Argives, dastardly cowards, admirable 
in appearance only, what hath become of the vaunting 
boasts, when now we professed to be the bravest, which, 
when in Lemnos, ye vaingloriously uttered, eating much 
flesh of straight-horned oxen and drinking goblets 
crowned with wine, each one of you, that he would stand 
in battle against one hundred and two hundred of the 
Trojans ? But now we are not even a match for one, 
Hector, who will speedily burn the ships with consuming 
fire. father Jupiter, hast thou ever afflicted any 
sovereign prince with such a calamity as this, and so 



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despoiled him of his high renown ? nor yet do I think 
that ever I passed by any very beautiful altar of thine, with 
my many-benched ship, when I was unfortunately coming 
hither : but upon them all have I burned the fat and 
thighs of oxen, earnestly desiring to demolish the well- 
walled Ilium : but, J upiter, accomplish for me this 
desire at least, permit ourselves now to flee away and 
escape, and suffer not the Achaeans to be slain in this 
manner by the Trojans." So he spake, but the father 
pitied him shedding tears, and assented that the forces 
should be safe and not perish. And forthwith he sent an 
eagle the most perfect of birds, holding in its talons a 
fawn the offspring of a fleet doe : and it cast down the 
fawn near the very beautiful altar of Jupiter, where the 
Achaeans offered it up to Panomphaean Jove. 

But they, when they saw that the bird had come from 
Jupiter, more keenly assailed the Trojans, and were 
mindful of battle. Then no one of the Danai, though 
they were many, boasted sooner than the son of Tydeus 
to have directed his swift steeds, and driven out of the 
trench, and to have opposed them in battle : but far 
soonest he slew an armed man of the Trojans, Agelaus 
son of Phradmon. He, indeed, was turning his horses 
to flight, and whilst he was wheeling about, he fixed 
a spear in his back between the shoulders, and 
forced it through his breast ; and he fell down from the 
chariot, and his arms rung over him. But after him the 
sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus; and after 
them the Ajaxes, clothed with impetuous strength : and 
after them Idomeneus, and the companion of Idomeneus, 
Meriones equivalent to man-slaying Mars : and after them 
Eurypylus, the renowned son of Euasmon : and Teucer 
came the ninth, stretching bent bows ; and he stood 
under the shield of Telamonian Ajax. Then Ajax moved 
his shield aside, while the hero himself, having cast a 
glance around, when he had struck any one in the crowd 
with an arrow, the one indeed falling there lost his life, 
while the other retreating, sheltered himself beneath Ajax, 
as a child beneath its mother, and he covered him with 



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143 



his shining shield. Then whom first of the Trojans did 
the blameless Teucer slay ? Orsilochus indeed in the 
first place, and Ormenus, and Ophelestes, and Daetor, and 
Chronrius, and Lycophontes a match for a god, and 
Amopaon son of Polyseinon, and Melanippus - all, one 
after another, he brought down to the many supporting 
ground. But Agamemnon king of men rejoiced when he 
saw him destroying the lines of the Trojans from his 
strong bow : and going he stood beside him, and accosted 
him with these words : " Teucer, dear head, son of Tela- 
mon, prince of people, hurl on in this manner, if by any 
means you can become a light to the Greeks, and to 
thine own father Telamon, who nourished you when a 
little one; and on thee, although being spurious, he 
bestowed attentive care in his own house : cause him, 
though distant, to ascend the pinnacle of glory : and I 
declare to thee, as it shall also be accomplished ; in case 
that both iEgis-bearing Jupiter and Minerva grant me 
to overthrow the well-situated town of Ilium, I will place 
an honorary reward in your hands first after myself, 
either a tripod, or two horses with the chariot itself, or 
a woman, who may ascend the same bed with thee." 
But the blameless Teucer replying said unto him : " Most 
glorious son of Atreus, why dost thou incite me hastening 
myself also ? By no means do I relax, as far at least as 
my ability reaches : but from the time that we have 
repelled them towards Ilium, since that to the present 
time I slay men, intercepting them with my arrows. I 
have already sent forth eight long-barbed arrows, and 
all were fixed in the body of warlike youths : but I am 
not able to strike this rabid dog." He said so, and 
despatched another arrow from the string against Hector ; 
for his soul was eager to hit him : and him indeed he 
missed ; but he struck with the arrow in the breast the 
blameless Gorgythion the brave son of Priam, whom his 
mother, the beautiful Castianira, like to the goddesses in 
personal appearance, being taken in marriage from 
iEsyma, brought forth. And as a poppy, which in a 
garden is weighed down with fruit and the vernal 



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THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



showers, hath hung its head to one side, so his head 
inclined to one side, depressed by the helmet. And Teucer 
despatched another arrow from the string against Hector, 
for his soul was eager to hit him : but he missed him then 
too : for Apollo turned it aside : but he struck on the breast 
near the pap Archeptolemus, the bold charioteer of Hector 
rushing on to battle : and he fell down from the chariot, 
and the swift-footed horses recoiled, whilst his soul and 
strength were there dissolved. Now sad grief over- 
shadowed the mind of Hector on account of his charioteer, 
yet he then left him, though grieved for his companion, 
and ordered his brother Oebriones, being at hand, to 
catch the reins of the horses: and he, when he heard him, 
at once obeyed. But he himself bounded from his all- 
shining chariot to the ground, vociferating terribly : he 
then caught a hand-stone in his hand, and went directly 
against Teucer; for his soul prompted him to strike him. 
He indeed, had just taken a bitter arrow from the quiver, 
and applied it to the string : but the helmet-waving 
Hector struck him drawing it back, upon the shoulder 
where the collar-bone separates the neck and breast, and 
it is especially a fatal place : there he struck him with 
the rough stone as he was rushing against him, and broke 
his string, and his hand became numb at the wrist. And 
he stood, falling to his knees, and the bow fell from his 
hand. But Ajax did not neglect his brother having fallen, 
but running he protected, and covered him with his shield. 
Then two beloved companions, Mecisteus son of Echius, 
and noble Alastor, going under him, carried him to the 
hollow ships deeply groaning. Now the Olympian again 
excited the courage of the Trojans : and they repulsed 
the Achseans straight towards the deep trench, and Hector 
went amongst the foremost, grim-visaged through fierce- 
ness. And as when any dog, relying upon his swift-feet, 
catches from behind, a wild boar or lion in the hips and 
haunches, and watches it turning round : so Hector hung 
on the rear of the hair-crested Acheeans, always killing 
the hindmost man, whilst they were flying. But after 
they had passed through the stakes and the trench, flying, 



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145 



and many had been laid low under the hands of the 
Trojans, they at length were restrained, remaining at the 
ships; and encouraging one another, and holding up 
their hands to all the gods, they prayed each one aloud. 
And Hector wheeled round on every side his beautiful- 
haired horses, having the eyes of a gorgon and of mortal- 
destroying Mars. 

But the white-armed goddess Juno beheld them with 
pity, and instantly addressed Minerva with winged words : 
"Alas! daughter of ^Egis-b earing Jupiter, shall we 
now no more care for the perishing Greeks, even in their 
last extremity ? who having now filled up the measure 
of an evil destiny, are perishing by the stroke of one 
man : for Hector son of Priam rages in a manner no longer 
to be borne, and has already done many evils." But the 
azure-eyed Minerva addressed her in turn : " And 
assuredly this man would have lost his vigour and his life, 
being destroyed by the hands of the Argives in his native 
land, were it not that my father labours under a luckless 
infatuation, hard hearted, always inexorable the obstructor 
of my ardent desires. Neither is he anywise mindful of 
these things, that very frequently I saved for him his son, 
worn under the labours of Eurystheus. Yea,indeed he wept 
to heaven : but Jupiter sent me forth from heaven to render 
him aid: for if I had known these things with a prudent mind, 
when he sent him on to Hades having well-fitted gates, to 
bring from Erebus the dog of hateful Pluto, he would 
not have escaped from the profound streams of the water 
of Styx. And now he hates me indeed, and has accom- 
plished the counsels of Thetis, who kissed his knees, and 
caught his chin with her hand, supplicating him to honour 
the city-sacking Achilles. Yet the time will come when 
he shall again call me his own dear azure-eyed girl. 
However, do you now get ready for us the whole hoofed 
steeds, till I, entering the house of iEgis-bearing Jove, 
shall arm myself with arms for war, in order that I may 
see whether the son of Priam, helmet-waving Hector, 
will rejoice, when we appear through the intervals of the 
battle. Surely some one of the Trojans too shall satiate 



146 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the dogs and birds of prey with his fat and flesh, having 
fallen at the ships of the Achaeans." She so spake : nor 
did the white-armed goddess Juno disobey. Juno indeed, 
the venerable goddess, daughter of the great Saturn, 
running in haste, prepared the golden harnessed horses : 
whilst Minerva, the daughter of iEgis-bearing Jupiter, 
let flow down upon her father's pavement her delicate 
robe, figured, which, forsooth, she herself had made and 
wrought with her hands. And having put on the coat of 
mail of cloud-collecting Jupiter, she equipped herself 
with arms for the lamentable war. And with her feet 
she mounted the shining chariot, and took a spear, heavy, 
great, strong, whereby she subdues the ranks of brave 
men, with whomsoever the daughter of a mighty father 
is enraged. But Juno with the lash urged on the horses 
swiftly : and the gates of heaven spontaneously grated, 
which the seasons kept, to which have been committed 
the great heaven and Olympus, both to open and shut 
the thick cloud. By this way forsooth, through these 
they directed the spur-obeying steeds. But father Jupiter, 
when he saw them from Ida, was sorely enraged : and he 
excited the golden-winged Iris to carry a message : " Go 
in haste, swift Iris, and turn them back, and suffer them 
not to come against me : for it will be neither for our 
honour nor profit that we should engage in the contest. 
For I thus declare, and it shall also be accomplished, I 
will enfeeble the limbs of the swift steeds under their 
chariot, and cast themselves from the seat, and break down 
the chariot : neither shall they be able to heal the wounds 
which my thunderbolt will inflict, for ten revolving 
years : that the azure-eyed girl may know when she 
contends with her own father. But with Juno I am by 
no means so much indignant, nor angry for she has been 
always accustomed to put a check to whatever sentiments 
I may have entertained in mind." So he spake : but 
the storm-footed Iris rushed away with the message, and 
went from the Idgean mountains to the lofty Olympus, 
and meeting, she detained them at the first gates of many- 
fold Olympus, and announced to them the speech of 



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147 



Jupiter : " Whither are ye hastening ? why is the heart 
in your breast infatuated ? The son of Saturn does not 
suffer you to bring aid to the Argives. For the son of 
Saturn has thus threatened, if indeed he will accomplish 
it, that he will enfeeble the limbs of the swift steeds 
under your chariot, and cast yourselves from the seat, 
and break down the chariot : neither shall ye be able to 
heal the wounds which his thunder will inflict, for ten 
revolving years ; that you jmay know, azure-eyed girl, 
whenever you contend with your own father. But with 
Juno he is by no means so much indignant, nor angry, 
for she has ever been accustomed to check the purposes 
of his mind. But thou, most naughty, of fearless impu- 
dence, if really thou shalt dare to lift a mighty spear 
against Jupiter." Swift-footed Iris, having thus spoken, 
went off: then Juno addressed Minerva in these words : 
" Alas ! daughter of iEgis-bearing Jupiter, I no longer 
permit, that we should contend against Jupiter on account 
of mortals, of whom let one perish and another live, 
according as his lot may be : but let him, as it is equitable, 
decide for the Trojans and Greeks according to the 
judgment of his own mind." Having so said, she turned 
back the solid-hoofed steeds. And the seasons loosed 
for them the beautiful-haired horses, and bound them to 
the ambrosial stalls, and inclined the chariot against the 
all-shining walls, whilst they themselves sat down upon 
golden couches, promiscuously among the other gods, 
being vexed to the very heart. But father Jupiter drove 
his easy-running chariot from Ida to Olympus, and arrived 
at the seats of the gods. And the illustrious shaker of 
the earth loosed the horses for him also, and placed the 
chariot on the bases, spreading over it a linen coverlet. 
But the far-seeing Jupiter himself sat down upon a golden 
throne, and the great Olympus was shaken under his feet. 
Now Minerva and Juno were sitting solitary, apart from 
Jupiter, neither did they at all address him, nor ask any 
question : but he knew in his own mind, and said : 
" Why, then, are ye so sad, Minerva and Juno ? ye did 
not, indeed, toil long in the glorious fight, destroying 



148 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



the Trojans, against whom ye have conceived such 
implacable resentment. Assuredly, such is my might 
and invincible hands, that not all the gods, as many a& 
are in Olympus, could have turned me away. But sooner 
indeed had tremor seized the fair limbs of you both, ere 
ye had seen the war, and the curious deeds of war. 
For I thus declare, and it would have been accomplished, 
being struck with my thunder, ye would not have come 
back upon your own chariot to Olympus, where is the 
seat of the gods." He so spake : but Minerva and Juno 
muttered : they indeed were sitting near to each other, 
and were planning evils for the Trojans. Indeed Minerva 
was silent, neither did she say anything, being offended 
with Jupiter her father, and bitter wrath took possession 
of her : but Juno did not contain the anger in her breast, 
but she addressed him : " Most gloomy son of Saturn, 
what sort of speech is this you have uttered ? We, too, 
well know that thy strength is invincible, but we alto- 
gether commiserate the Grecian warriors, who are now 
perishing, having filled up the measure of their adverse 
destiny. But yet we shall abstain from the war, as you 
order, and shall only suggest to the Argives such counsel 
as may serve them, that they may not all perish by reason 
of thine anger." But cloud-collecting Jupiter, replying, 
said unto her : " To morrow morning thou shalt see, if 
you wish, large-eyed venerable Juno, the all powerful 
son of Saturn dealing a still more grievous slaughter 
amidst the great army of the shielded Argives. For the 
impetuous Hector will not cease from the battle before 
that the swift-footed son of Peleus is raised up at the 
ships, on that day when they are about to fight at the 
sterns of the vessels, in a most gloomy strait, concerning 
the slain Patroclus ; for so it is decreed by fate. But I 
disregard thee being angry, not even if you should go 
to the utmost bounds of the earth and sea, where Japetus 
and Cronus, sitting, are neither cheered by the bright- 
ness of the ascending sun, nor by the winds, but profound 
Tartarus is all around : not even though you should go 
away wandering there, (I say,) do I care for thee being 



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149 



offended, since none else is more impudent than thee." 
He so spake : but the white-armed Juno made him no 
rejoinder. Now the bright light of the sun sunk down 
in the ocean, drawing sable night over the bounteous 
land. To the Trojans indeed the light went down against 
their wishes, whilst to the Achseans the obscure night 
came on fondly desired, thrice-wished for. But 
illustrious Hector held an assembly of the Trojans, lead- 
ing them apart from the ships, towards the eddy river, 
in a clear place, where the space appeared free from the 
dead bodies. And dismounting from their horses upon 
the ground, they listened to the speech which Hector, dear 
to Jupiter, delivered. In his hand he held a spear eleven 
cubits long, and the brazen point of the spear shone before 
him, and a golden ring ran round it : he, leaning upon 
this, spoke these words among the Trojans : " Hear me, 
ye Trojans, and Dardans, and auxiliaries ; I have just 
thought, that having destroyed both the ships and all the 
AchsBans, I would return back to windy Ilium, but sooner 
has the darkness come on, which has now been the chief 
mean of saving the Argives, and the ships upon the sea 
shore. But, however let us now be compliant with black 
night, and let us prepare supper : meanwhile loose the 
beautiful-haired horses from under the chariots, and cast 
food before them ; and bring from the city oxen and fat 
sheep, speedily; and bring sweet wine and bread from 
the houses ; and besides, gather much wood, that through 
the whole night, even till the dawn of morning, we may 
kindle many fires, and the brightness may reach to heaven: 
lest perchance the hair-crested Achaeans, even through 
the night, might attempt to flee over the broad ridges 
of the sea. That they may not, unmolested at least, 
quietly embark in their ships ; but that each one of them 
may digest a weapon even at home, being struck either 
with an arrow or sharp spear, as he springs upon his ship : 
that even any other may shudder to bring a lamentable 
war upon the horse-taming Trojans. And let heralds 
dear to Jupiter announce through the city, that the boys 
grown up, and the hoary-templed old men should keep 



150 



THE ILIAD OF HOMER. 



watch stations aronnd the city upon the divine-built 
towers. But let the women, the feebler sex, kindle a great 
fire, each one in her own house : and let there be some 
firm guard, lest a band in ambush should enter into the 
city in the absence of the forces. Let it be so, magnani- 
mous Trojans, just as I pronounce. And let this speech, 
which is wholesome for the present, be spoken : but that 
which is likely to be expedient in the morning I shall 
declare amidst the horse-taming Trojans. And I hope, 
praying to both Jupiter and the other gods, that I will 
expel hence those dogs that have been brought here by the 
unlucky fates, whom the fates of death bring in the black 
ships. Bat, however ,we will guard ourselves during the 
night : and in the morning by the dawn, being clothedwith 
arms, we shall excite sharp battle at the hollow ships. I 
shall see whether the son of Tydeus, brave Diomedes, will 
repel me from the ships to the wall ; or whether I, having 
slain him with my sword, shall carry off the bloody spoils. 
To-morrow he will prove his own valour, should he await 
the assault of my spear : but I think he will lie wounded 
among the foremost, and many companions around him, 
by the rising sun to-morrow : for, that I were immortal 
and exempt from old age all days, and were honoured as 
Minerva and Apollo are honoured, as surely as this day 
now brings destruction to the Greeks." So Hector haran- 
gued : but the Trojans applauded. They then loosed the 
sweating horses from under the yoke, and bound them : 
with straps beside their own chariots, each of them : and 
they brought from the city oxen and fat sheep, speedily ; 
and they brought sweet wine and bread from the houses ; 
and moreover they collected much wood. And the winds 
carried the smell from the plain up into heaven. But 
they, being greatly elated, sat through the whole night 
in the intervals of the battle : and many fires were burning 
among them. And as when in the sky the stars appear 
very bright around the shining moon, and when the atmos- 
phere is calm, and all the watch towers, and lofty prom- 
ontories, and lawns are conspicuously seen, and immense 
clearness breaks forth from heaven, and all the stars are 



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151 



seen, and the shepherd rejoices in his heart : so many 
fires, which the Trojans were kindling, appeared before 
Ilium, between the ships and the streams of Xanthus. 
A thousand fires, forsooth, were kindled on the plain, 
and beside each sat fifty, at the brightness of the burning- 
fire : whilst the horses, eating- white barley and straw, 
standing beside the chariots, waited for the beautiful- 
throned Aurora. 



